Employment policy: voluntary veterans’ preference.
The impact of AB 160 is significant as it seeks to clarify and expand the rights of veterans in the employment sphere by allowing businesses in California to implement preferential hiring for veterans. Proponents argue that this policy recognizes the sacrifices made by servicemen and women and aids their reintegration into civilian life. However, critics raise concerns that this could lead to reverse discrimination against other groups who may also be qualified for the same positions, especially if the preference could overshadow merit-based hiring practices.
Assembly Bill 160, also known as the Voluntary Veterans Preference Employment Policy Act, aims to amend the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) by allowing private employers to establish a written veterans preference employment policy. This policy would allocate preference to veterans in hiring decisions, which would be uniformly applied to ensure equal treatment among applicants. The bill intends to affirm that such a preference does not violate any existing local or state equal employment opportunity laws, which has sparked a considerable amount of discussion and varying opinions on its implications.
The sentiment surrounding AB 160 is mixed. Supporters, primarily from veteran advocacy groups and some legislators, view this as a meaningful step towards honoring veterans and addressing their employment challenges post-service. Conversely, opponents express apprehension about the potential for discriminatory outcomes against non-veterans and the need for a fair hiring process that respects all applicants' qualifications and experiences.
A notable point of contention within the discussions around AB 160 is its stipulation that the implementation of the veterans preference policy must be contingent upon the United States Department of Defense rescinding a policy that prohibits transgender individuals from serving. This clause introduces a layer of complexity to the bill, intertwining veteran employment rights with broader LGBTQ+ rights, which has led to significant debate on whether employment policies should be exclusive to veteran status or should also consider inclusivity for all genders within the military.