Veterans in the workplace stand to benefit from wellness programs

Sunday, 09 January 2011 16:00

News - Wellness News

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In the coming years, it may be more important than ever for employers to offer comprehensive employee health benefits that include coverage of wellness programs, as hundreds of thousands of veterans are set to join the civilian workforce. 

As U.S. operations in Iraq are winding down, and a similar approach is expected in Afghanistan, veterans of these conflicts - who already number more than 1.5 million individuals - will be coming home and launching or resuming their professional careers.

Unfortunately, many of these individuals are likely to be experiencing psychological after-effects of exposure to traumatic events, and will therefore require ongoing care for depression, anxiety or, in some cases, substance abuse. In fact, a study published this month in the journal Psychiatric Services has found that these disorders may impact some veteran employees' time management skills and productivity.

The report's authors - a team of psychologists and psychiatrists from academic centers in Boston, Syracuse, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Baltimore - emphasize the need for "empirically supported interventions and development of care models that focus on work-specific interventions" in order to facilitate veterans' successful transition to civilian and professional life.

While focus on corporate wellness may help veterans boost their productivity in the workplace, it will likely benefit all employees, as some studies suggest that as many as half of all Americans experience stress on a regular basis.