Employers can create a veterans’ affinity group as a safe space for veterans to bond, share and feel supported, especially if that company employs a large number of former service members.Īs leaders, it’s important to prioritize and destigmatize your employees' mental health concerns and needs, especially for at-risk populations. Many companies have different employee resource groups to help create a sense of community, foster diversity and make the workplace more welcoming.

From my perspective, an easier and more effective transition into the workforce can help lead to long-term happiness and value. Stay open-minded and provide training programs to ease the transition and support the transfer of skills. Programs that help veterans and civilians find alignment can help. Although these skills are critical in military roles, it’s not always obvious how to repackage these skills and make them immediately transferable. Many veterans receive years of specialized training during their service. The workplace must be a safe place to openly work on mental health. Some might avoid asking for help or communicating their needs out of fear of being fired, ruining their relationships, etc. As leaders, we must inform ourselves about the challenges facing veterans and do what we can to remove those obstacles. Check in with your employees, create a strong workplace support system and cultivate a positive and supportive company culture. Make sure your employees know you value their health and well-being as a company, not just through words but also through your actions. Actively combat stigmas in the workplace.

Generous health benefits are an investment into your employees' overall wellness, productivity and happiness, and research has found that happy employees are more productive. This can help combat the challenge of not knowing where to begin when seeking treatment and ensure veterans and other employees can find the mental healthcare they need. What resources are available to your employees seeking mental or physical health treatment? Ensure these resources are not only available but also easy to access and use without negative repercussions or judgment. Think about health insurance and other benefits. Here are four concrete steps companies or leaders can take to support veterans in the workplace: 1.

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