While Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day, along with special employment advantages, are significant, we can do more to honor the veterans in our offices. Making veterans feel appreciated and seen doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some suggestions to best show your gratitude in a respectful way:
1. Recognize Veterans on Veteran Holidays
Make it a point to honor your veterans on significant holidays. Even if the whole office has the day off, choose a nearby Friday or Monday to celebrate. Organize a special moment to acknowledge their service, whether recent or from years past. Consider giving small awards or catering lunch. For the best recognition ideas, consult veteran and ex-military supervisors and managers to ensure the awards feel appropriate and meaningful. Make it a small and personalized gift or award. An engraved plaque to celebrate their success that doesn’t call to any specific event might be best. You want to celebrate them for who they are and what they’ve overcome, not necessarily to remind them of it. If that seems like too much, a personalized clock can go a long way for a corporate gift.
2. Create a Social Group for Office Veterans
Form a social group for the veterans in your office. Allocate a budget to take them out to dinner monthly or quarterly. If you have enough veterans, consider organizing an office softball team or similar activities. Make these outings special by providing teams with trophies and plaques, fostering a sense of engagement and camaraderie among employees.
3. Help Them Take Advantage of Their Military Skills in The Workplace
Find ways to leverage the diverse skills veterans bring from their military experience. Soldiers, medics, and engineers possess a wide range of skills that can be invaluable in an office setting. With a bit of creative thinking, these skills can be effectively translated to enhance workplace productivity and problem-solving capabilities.
4. Facilitate Transition for New Veterans by Finding Them a Buddy
If you’ve hired a veteran fresh out of the service, pair them with another veteran who has been in civilian life longer. This mentorship can make the transition smoother, offering guidance and support as they adapt to their new environment.
You can create a workplace culture that values and appreciates the unique contributions of veterans, making them feel recognized and respected for their service.
Why Your Company Can Benefit from Helping Our Vets
The Department of Labor implemented a program in 2017 that made it easier for vets returning from active duty to seek jobs at places they knew would be nurturing and hospitable. Part of this program recognizes companies who have shown a long-term commitment to employing veterans of all kinds, and making sure they are faring well now that they’re back home. This can include implementing a veteran quota, providing access to mental health programs for your vet employees, and offering vocational education so they can thrive in their new civilian careers. This is a great way our government has teamed up with private-sector America to give just a little bit back to the people who gave all of us the absolute most.
Setting Veterans Up for Success
Veterans transitioning from the service to the workplace can find the change of environment and customs difficult. Integrating back into civilian life can take time, making it important for employers to be patient and as helpful as possible. While teaming veterans with other veterans can be helpful, it’s also crucial that former servicemen and women feel as if their managers and supervisors are involved in their success.
Veterans jumping straight into the workforce after serving for years don’t have the same advantages that regular civilians have, especially when it comes to navigating the workplace. One of the simplest ways to set veterans up for success in the workplace is by giving them corporate gifts that add actual value to their job. When a veteran joins your team, gift them personalized desk accessories they likely wouldn’t have, such as an engraved desk card holder filled with premium cards. If they’re entering a role in HR or Accounting, consider gifting them quality engraved pens for their various signings. Small gifts like these make veterans immediately feel involved in the workplace and save them time and money from purchasing these useful tools themselves. Other unique corporate gifts to consider include personalized Post It holders and an engraved nameplate that features their name, as well as military branch.
