Once you’ve made the decision to return to work, it’s important to understand what rights you have and what you can expect from your employer.
Entering the workforce after suffering an injury or disability can be a difficult experience. Whether you’re living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), managing hearing loss or learning to live with limb loss, you may worry if you’ll be able to find a job that accommodates your needs. But returning to work is often a necessary and important part of moving forward.
Check out the article below for tips and resources that can help you navigate a return to the workforce, as well as what laws are in place to protect you.
Tips for Veterans Ready to Enter the Workforce
- Recognize your worth. As a Veteran, you have a unique set of skills. You’ve been placed in high-stress environments and you know how to complete difficult tasks with a quick turnaround. You’re adaptable, resilient and loyal. These are skills many employers value.
- Highlight your strengths. Don’t focus on the activities and tasks that are a struggle for you. Instead, focus on activities and skills you do well. Maybe it’s your communication skills, your ability to learn quickly or your computer skills. Even if you didn’t use these skills before your disability, they may come in handy now.
- Learn as much as you can. The better you understand your disability, the better prepared you’ll be to adapt in the workplace. What are some common ways people adapt or cope with this disability? What jobs are best suited to your skills?
- Take care of yourself. Putting your best self forward requires a good amount of effort. To avoid burnout, be sure to get enough sleep, eat well and manage your stress levels.
- Rely on your connections. Contact old colleagues and friends. Ask around in your social network about job openings or employers with a good track record of supporting employees with disabilities.
- Embrace accommodations. Don’t be ashamed to request support to help you thrive in the workplace. Explore the information below to learn more about accommodations you may be entitled to such as a one-handed keyboard for someone with limb loss or the use of a service animal for those experiencing PTSD.
- Reach out for support. When you’re ready to return to work, there are several organizations ready to make the transition easier. Whether it’s resume writing, job searching or other needs, review the resources at the end of this article for the support you deserve.
Your Rights as an Employee
Once you’ve made the decision to return to work, it’s important to understand your rights and what you can expect from your employer.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against qualified employees or job applicants on the basis of their disability. It covers all employment practices including the job application process, hiring, advancement, compensation, training, termination and all other conditions of employment.
- Under the ADA employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations, unless the accommodation would impose significant difficulty or expense. A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a job, the work environment, or the way activities are usually done at work with the goal of helping all individuals have an equal opportunity to get a job and successfully perform their job tasks.
- Reasonable accommodations can include needs like noise-canceling headphones for workers with PTSD, a workspace that easily accommodates a wheelchair, or an altered work schedule for a Veteran to continue important therapy sessions. Other accommodations may include a later start time for a Veteran with a spinal cord injury who needs additional personal care time and more.
- Generally, there is no obligation to disclose disability-related information to your employer unless you’d like to request an accommodation. For help deciding if, when or how to disclose your disability, read the Job Accommodation Network’s (JAN) Dos and Don’ts of Disclosure. The organization also provides guidance on requesting an accommodation as well as a form letter available for your request.
- Don’t hesitate to request an accommodation that enables you to perform your job more successfully. It’s not a special favor or a handout – it’s your legally protected right.
- If you’re returning to an employer after performing military service, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act requires employers to make reasonable efforts to help returning employees become qualified for reemployment in the positions they would have attained if they had not left for military duty.
Resources
- The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations. Access their online resources, call, or use their live chat feature for practical suggestions for requesting and negotiating employment accommodations.
- The Social Security Administration offers the Ticket to Work program for Veterans receiving Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance. Through Ticket to Work you can still receive disability benefits while accessing services such as career counseling, vocational rehabilitation, job training, and more. The ChooseWork website can help you connect with a provider to get started.
- The Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE) program offers support and services for Veterans with service-related disabilities. The employment assistance program can assist returning to your former job, receiving job training or education for a new job, starting your own business, and more.