Separate fact from fiction when hiring veterans
Some employers believe hiring veterans is bad for business because of the mistaken assumption that most veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and are dangerous. To the contrary, veterans are productive employees who often become community leaders. To understand why veterans make great employees, one must debunk the myths surrounding PTSD.
Most Americans watched in horror as the events of Sept. 11, 2001, unfolded. As a result, many decided never to fly again, enter a tall building or visit famous landmarks. If you have experienced any of these reactions, then you suffer from a form of PTSD. The Mayo Clinic defines PTSD as “a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.” Other events that can trigger PTSD include sexual or physical abuse, crime, serious accidents or natural disasters.
What most people do not realize is that these other events happen to more people and more often than the combat-exposure events. The Criminal Justice University states that one in every five Americans will fall victim to some type of crime. The only difference between a veteran suffering from PTSD and another person with non-combat PTSD is media exposure. When veterans with PTSD are involved in an incident, it becomes headline news with national exposure. If a non-veteran with PTSD is involved in an incident, PTSD is rarely mentioned and gains little or no exposure.
Myth: All veterans suffer from PTSD issues.
Fact: A November 2012 Gallup Poll reported that 13% of American adults are considered veterans. The majority of veterans have never been in combat situations. Of those veterans who have, “the rates of PTSD and depression range from 9% to 31%, depending on the level of functional impairment reported” per a June 2010 National Center for Biotechnology Information study. This represents slightly more than 1% of the total population of U.S. veterans.
Myth: Veterans returning from combat with PTSD are more likely to exhibit violent or threatening behavior in the workplace.
Fact: The Mayo Clinic's definition of PTSD does not include violent behavior. “In fact, not one single research study exists linking violent behavior with the diagnosis of PTSD,” according to the April 2012 issue of The Badge of Life.
Myth: Hiring a veteran means that they will bring their PTSD baggage into the workplace and decrease productivity and morale.
Fact: A case study from Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families in March 2012 argued that the skills developed through military training make veterans vital workers in a business environment. Veterans' experience working in national and global settings with diverse work forces remains unmatched by other employees. Veterans are loyal and have integrity — “soft skills” virtually every employer desires.
If employers do find that a veteran employee is having difficulty, there are services available at no cost to help veterans cope. Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD at ptsd.va.gov/index.asp, for a list.
PTSD can happen to anyone, not just veterans. As with most injuries, with proper treatment its severity can be mitigated and healing can begin. Don't hesitate to reach out and hire a veteran.
If you are interested in recruiting veterans for your business, contact Auta Main, the veterans' program manager at the Maine Department of Labor. Her email is Auta.M.Main@maine.gov.
John Wagner, a 26-year Navy veteran, is a local veterans' employment representative with the Lewiston CareerCenter. He assists veterans with finding employment and connecting businesses to veterans.
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