4 tips for easing veterans return to work
November 9, 2014 10:03 PM
Following return from overseas duty, veterans may experience difficulty in adjusting to civilian work life. Dr. Joseph Hullett, national medical director for Optum, a board-certified psychiatrist and a veteran of the U.S. Marines, offers the following advice for employers on how to help veterans successfully make this transition:
Provide mentoring
Provide mentoring by a co-worker preferably a fellow vet, if possible to help the vet understand corporate culture, the unspoken rules of the workplace and career advancement options.
Promote the EAP
Promote employee assistance programs as a good resource to seek counsel and assistance for workers struggling to re-integrate into the workforce, and to assist with education about the types of workplace accommodations veterans may need.
Train managers
Train managers to identify signs of combat-related conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and implement practices to help vets with such conditions do their jobs more effectively, such as allowing flexible work schedules and job sharing with another employee.
Educate veterans
Educate veterans about the vast array of medical, emotional and financial support programs offered by local community groups, state and federal government agencies and veterans service organizations.
