UP recognized for hiring veterans

Union Pacific Railroad ranked sixth on the 2016 Best Companies for Veterans list compiled by Monster and Military.com, the Class I announced late last week.

This year is the second time UP was named among the top 10 businesses for its hiring initiatives and recruitment, onboarding and retention focused on veterans, according to a UP press release.

The railroad also was named to the 2017 Military Friendly Employers list by MilitaryFriendly.com. Ratings are based on veteran hiring, career advancement, culture, retention and policies and compliance. In each category, UP exceeded benchmark standards by more than 20 percent.

About 17 percent of UP employees have military experience, and some remain active in the National Guard or Reserves.

The company recruits veterans in various ways, including through membership in the U.S Chamber of Commerce Veteran Employment Advisory council, through which UP participated in 14 Hiring Our Heroes career fairs last year. In addition, UP recruiters participated in 11 virtual career fairs and 135 other military fairs and events, such as those organized by the Wounded Warrior Project.

"Our blueprint for talent management is focused on recruiting, developing and engaging top talent, and veterans are a cornerstone of that strategy because of their focus on safety, proven leadership skills and experience working in challenging environments," said Sherrye Hutcherson, UP's vice president-human resources.