While we have all struggled to adjust to a post-pandemic world, our veterans have been dealing with stresses in the workplace for decades. Compared to a rigid daily work structure, the civilian work structure is more ambiguous, potentially forcing some veterans to acclimate to a new way of life. Days of high physical activity, drills, inspections and combat are now occupied with other activities that are important to business but may look far different.
Many companies already have veteran-specific hiring strategies because the skills and devotion this sector brings are massively beneficial to employers. Some of these attributes include an entrepreneurial spirit, trustworthiness, resiliency, advanced team-building skills, and much more. Veterans are known to be comfortable and adept in ever-changing environments, which has helped them adjust to different organizational workplaces.
Even though many veterans possess traits that are essential to a company’s success, it’s important for employers to also understand the challenges veterans face in these new environments. These may include adjusting to a different pace of life and work or different communication styles and social interaction. In addition, the National Center for PTSD found that 7% to 8% of people will suffer from PTSD during their lifetime without experiencing a dangerous event.
Since there is no one-size-fits-all approach to helping veteran employees overcome mental distress, it’s important for employers to be accommodating. A successful transition requires employers to be adept at identifying challenges veterans are facing and then providing the support needed to address those challenges. This approach will help an organization not only attract top talent but retain them.
Specific ways employers can support veterans’ well-being include creating a plan consisting of clearly defined goals and objectives, showing empathy and having a consistent communication structure. It’s important to identify and deal with issues as they arise and continue to support employees through their ups and downs.
One tool organizations can use to learn more about supporting their veterans is PsychArmor. PsychArmor is a national nonprofit that provides organization and training to improve the health and life outcomes of military-connected individuals. They create data-driven and evidence-based virtual training courses that help to enhance the level of connection between civilians and military-connected people.
