Most organizations—especially larger employers—have experience with military veterans, members of the National Guard and Reservists who have spent active duty time before reintegrating in the workplace, and/or former full-time military personnel who are now looking for employment in the civilian work force. These men and women can provide valuable experience and insights as a result of their service, but also may have unique needs as a result of their service, too.
For HR leaders and managers, as well as supervisors and managers of these employees, there are many things to be aware of to ensure that the needs of the organization and these employees are met. First and foremost, they should be aware of and familiar with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), which is a federal law that establishes rights and responsibilities for uniformed service members and their civilian employers.
Beyond that, however, it is important to understand some of the challenges these employees may face as they re-join their employers, or embark upon new, non-military careers. For those who are re-integrating, there are many considerations, depending on their roles and how long they've been away from the workforce. In an excellent article on www.militaryonesource.mil (which you can access through the "Resources" section of VITALWorkLife.com), entitled "Reconnecting on the Job Following Deployment with the Guard or Reserve," the author brings up issues ranging from adjusting to changes to the organization, co-workers and the job, itself, to emotional issues related to the deployment, the abrupt change in structure and culture, and struggles with feeling engaged and fitting in again.
Former full-time military personnel are subject to some of these same feelings and issues, with the added challenges of matching their skills to a civilian workplace, and adjusting to very different organizational structures, working relationships and accountability metrics, to name just a few.
Then, there are the veterans who are returning with disabilities. The Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) recently released a report, "Workplace Warriors Revisited: Challenges, Opportunities, and Lessons Learned from Deployment and Reintegration of Citizen Soldiers," that cited the prevalence of disabilities at 25% for physical disabilities and nearly 20% for behavioral health conditions such as major depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study notes, "Employer education and preparedness to address the needs of this population are essential."
The same report goes on to say, "Effective Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) can address behavioral health issues such as PTSD and depression, as well as personal, family, and financial challenges. Professionals who work directly with veterans, including counselors, clinicians, and human resources (HR) specialists, need to develop 'cultural competence' to understand veterans' unique needs and characteristics, just as they would for any other social group."
We Can Help
At VITAL WorkLife, our EAP consultants can provide a wealth of information and support to both managers and former military employees. We can help with adjustment issues at work, as well as anxiety and concern around integration and establishing and re-establishing relationships with co-workers. Sometimes, issues at work parallel issues at home, and we can work with both the employee and his or her family members to pinpoint problems and help provide effective approaches and solutions. Where mental and behavioral issues extend beyond the scope of EAP, we can provide thoughtful, appropriate referrals after discussion and evaluation.
We can also provide consulting and training for managers around facilitating integration and dealing with issues unique to returning military, and assist workgroups and teams which may be struggling with integrating a new or returning employee.
The DMEC report also noted, "One untapped resource many companies have within their ranks is military veterans. Regardless of when or where they served, these individuals share a common bond with those who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Often these employee veterans want to lend support to their fellow Reservists, National Guard members, and military veterans in the workforce." We can provide guidance to HR managers in setting up both formal and informal mentoring and coaching programs between veterans.
Helping military, National Guard and Reserve veterans adjust to and re-integrate back into civilian life may seem daunting, but the rewards can be enormous, both to the veterans themselves and their co-workers. Providing the appropriate resources and assistance can greatly ease that transition for everyone, and send a signal about how an organization values all of its employees.
Access your EAP Resources through your VITAL WorkLife App or by calling 800.383.1908.
