For All Those Who Served
It’s Veteran’s Day and all of us at Life Meets Work would like to say thank you to the current and former members of our military who sacrificed to serve our country.
Transitioning service members and disabled veterans may face daily difficulties in the workplace. A few work-life accommodations can make the transition easier and accommodate any disabilities earned in the line of duty.
Recently Returned
These heroes have just spent considerable time away from their families. A workplace that recognizes the importance of family time will help these individuals reconnect with their loved ones and strengthen family bonds.
Injury and Stress
Physical injuries may place obvious limitations on a veteran’s ability to work long hours or perform certain job functions. Beyond these more obvious disabilities can be invisible—but significant—hurdles stemming from post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD).
The America’s Heroes at Work site has lots of suggestions for accommodating employees with PTSD.
Here are a few tips:
- Concentration: Allow veterans to work at home part-time in order to have blocks of uninterrupted time.
- Social integration: see above
- Stress and panic: Allow frequent breaks. Consider job sharing arrangements to ensure coverage.
- Frequent medical appointments: Allow veterans to use sick leave time for doctors appointments. Create a sick leave bank so employees can donate unused sick leave time to others who need it.
- Sleep disturbances: Work around flexible start and end times to provide extra leeway in the mornings.
Not every former service member struggles with PTSD or needs accommodations. For those that do, a flexible workplace is vital to recovery and long-term success.
What can you do for your country? Go flex!
Posted by Jaime.
Tags: veterans