How Trauma Informed Workplaces Support Veterans
As we celebrate Veteran’s Day this weekend, I am reminded the best way we can support those who’ve served our country is in providing ongoing care and support- not just on these days honoring their service, but every day.
Many organizations do great work prioritizing military transitions and hiring veterans- and rightly so, there are numerous benefits both for the transitioning servicemembers as well as the organization, and the community at large.
The many benefits of hiring veterans include:
Strong work ethic and dedication. Veterans are known for their strong work ethic, dedication, and loyalty.
Leadership skills. Many veterans have developed strong leadership skills through their military service.
Technical skills. Veterans often have specialized technical skills that can be valuable to employers.
Teamwork skills. Veterans are accustomed to working in teams, and they can collaborate effectively with others. They are also skilled at problem-solving and conflict resolution.
Diverse skills and experience. Veterans come from a variety of backgrounds and have a wide range of skills and experience.
Financial incentives for employers who hire veterans. For example, employers may be eligible for tax credits or salary reimbursement programs.
And creating paths for our servicemembers to transition to civilian life and jobs is the right thing to do.
But as any good HR or talent leader will tell you, your talent strategy extends far beyond talent attraction and hiring and should focus heavily on the employee’s experience at your organization. We often talk about this as employee experience, onboarding, employee engagement, and culture.
Organizations can’t simply rely on military hiring and recruiting strategies, they also need to create overall employee experiences and cultures that support veterans — and trauma informed workplace cultures are key in doing so.
Let’s get a couple things out of the way for our discussion-
Not every veteran or servicemember has experienced trauma or has PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Traumatic experiences can have long-term effects without an official diagnosis of PTSD.
Veterans are not the only demographic that experiences trauma that may have its effects show up in the workplace.
Trauma informed workplaces support the success of everyone, regardless of trauma status.
Why Trauma Informed Workplaces are important for Veterans.
While not all veterans experience trauma, they do experience higher prevalence of traumatic experiences, including for some, existing in an active war zone. While instances of trauma or traumatic experiences are less widely tracked, PTSD statistics are well documented as the initial understanding of trauma and its impacts is tied back to military service and wartime experiences.
11%-23% of Veterans experience PTSD in a given year and is most prevalent between the ages of 18 to 29- often a time when they may be transitioning to civilian life and the workforce. And unfortunately, these statistics also translate to troubling consequences, Veterans are 1.5x more likely to die by suicide than civilian adults. 17.2 veterans die by suicide each day.
Of course, Veterans need appropriate care for PTSD and trauma, and it is often available through the VA and many other government and nonprofit agencies (Including the Veteran’s Crisis Line- Dial 988 if you need support). But we cannot ignore — the workplace has a special role in engaging returning veterans into their communities and supporting overall purpose and livelihood or financial safety.
Trauma informed cultures also value openness to different backgrounds and experiences that can prioritize and value the unique contributions, skills, and knowledge veterans bring to the team that may be overlooked in less thoughtful cultures.
While trauma and its impacts are highly personal, building a culture that is trauma informed is key to supporting anyone who may have been impacted by trauma, including veterans.
Trauma informed cultures center supportive, informed environments where everyone has the opportunity to be successful. It prioritizes eliminating workplace trauma and actively avoids re-traumatizing survivors.
Trauma informed cultures support the journey of trauma recovery.
It is important to keep in mind that Trauma Informed Cultures DO NOT seek to diagnose or treat trauma. Nor should there be an expectation that individuals are under any obligation to share their traumatic experiences.
Trauma informed cultures are rooted in the seven principles created by The Wounded Workforce, as an interpretation of the original Trauma Informed Care principles created by SAMHSA.
Veterans and active servicemembers deserve our gratitude and respect. They also deserve workplaces that support their unique experiences and skillsets as they transition to civilian life. Trauma informed workplaces can do just that.
