“Getting out of the military and then getting a job and translating those skills—it's really challenging, and it's a bit of a leap of faith.”
Elizabeth Toenyes Content Strategist, Aquent
Many employers lack the understanding and resources to support veterans as they transition to civilian jobs. That issue is the focus of an article in HR Brew, exploring the challenges faced by the 8 million plus veterans currently in the workforce. The piece highlights the importance of adapting HR practices to ease this transition, especially regarding benefits, workplace culture, and mental health support.
Elizabeth Toenyes, a retired Army Officer and current Content Strategist at Aquent, is featured in the piece and shares her personal experience with these challenges. After 10 years in the military, Elizabeth had to adjust to life in the private sector with very different work rules, benefit plans, and cultural norms than the military. She believes that employers’ patience and support are crucial for veterans as they translate their skills into a corporate setting.
The article also underscores the need for mental health support and employee assistance programs (EAPs) tailored to veterans’ unique needs. Joel Axler, an Army veteran and psychiatrist, encourages companies to establish veteran-specific employee resource groups (ERGs) and run awareness campaigns to foster a supportive environment and reduce stigma around mental health care for veterans.
This article originally appeared on HR Brew.
