Since our founding in 1999, service has been at the very core of SYNERGY HomeCare.
As part of a relatively new industry called in-home care, we were committed even then to demonstrating how our service could help people live fuller, richer lives and provide them with the confidence to propel themselves forward.
We’ve taken that commitment one step further with a new partnership with the U.S Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP). After interviews with the DOD, SYNERGY HomeCare has been accepted into the 2021 employer class, one of 45 new partners.
The MSEP program is both creative and powerful. It connects military spouses with hundreds of partner employers in a range of industry that commit to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses.
Since its inception in 2011, MSEP employers have hired more than 200,000 military spouses. This is a significant accomplishment considering that the unemployment rate of military spouses is an unbelievable 24%—four times the current national unemployment rate of 4.8%. The DOD also estimates that military spouses face a 25% wage gap when compared to their civilian counterparts.
MSEP is part of the White House’s Joining Forces initiative, designed to increase economic opportunity and mobility for military families by helping develop career and education opportunities for spouses of active duty members, veterans and survivors. In addition to career exploration opportunities, education and training to help reach career goals and employment readiness assistance, military spouses gain invaluable access to employment connections that can help them find and maintain a rewarding career.
Here’s how it works in our case: SYNERGY HomeCare’s open job positions around the nation will appear in the DOD’s MSEP career portal, which is only accessible by military families. The MSEP will also lead training sessions for SYNERGY HomeCare franchisees on how best to reach military families with employment opportunities, including those in traditional military markets.
Considering our growth arc, SYNERGY HomeCare is well-positioned to engage with military spouses in a significant manner through this newly opened employment channel. We are one of the largest franchisers of in-home care services, with more than 190 franchisees operating nearly 400 franchise locations nationwide, we have also been recognized by Franchise Business Review as a Top 200 Franchise as well as a Top Franchise for Veterans.
The MSEP partnership is important to us because we have a long history of providing care to members of our nation’s military community, and we take great pride in how we can support the needs of veterans, active-duty military members or military families. We also recognize the tremendous sacrifice that our military families make each day on behalf of our country. Because of frequent moves and a need for flexible hours, many military spouses are unable to find and maintain employment.
We currently have many military spouses working with our franchisees and their mission-driven attitude and desire to make a difference is visible. We know from experience that joining forces with military spouses has many benefits for both parties. With this informal partnership now official and greatly expanded, we expect to realize even greater benefits for everyone involved.
We are excited about this national partnership, which provides unlimited access to valuable talent we can tap to create personal partnerships at the local level between our clients and military spouses.
SYNERGY HomeCare also gains access to networking opportunities with like-minded companies who have been vetted for inclusion in the MSEP program as well as development opportunities through various mentoring channels.
We are honored to be included in the program and are committed to offering rewarding and fulfilling job opportunities to military spouses and supporting their employment continuity during periods of relocation.
This is truly a win-win relationship as we expand our offerings across the country in order to serve those in need of care. I am deeply proud that together, we will take service to a whole new level.
