According to official data number of military personnel in Ukraine today it is 880 thousand people. The number is likely to increase due to mobilization, meaning there will be more than a million veterans in need of jobs after the war ends. After all, employment is one of the most important factors in successful adaptation to civilian life. Will Ukrainian companies cope with this challenge?
Ukrainian business and reintegration of veterans
Before the full-scale invasion, the number of people who went into the military and then returned to their previous workplace was relatively small. Therefore, the interaction between veterans and employers was formed individually: the management personally solved the issue with help for each case.
After 2022, the manual mode lost its effectiveness due to the ever-increasing number of demobilized. At the same time, Ukrainian companies faced a problem shortage of workers, which according to various data reaches from 3.5 to 5 million. Therefore, creating decent working conditions for veterans is not only a tribute to defenders, but also a necessity for business survival.
Successful cases
“Support from the company when a person is mobilized and when he serves is very important and provides an environment for him to return. This support confirms the importance of their work, it is a thank you and a tribute to the soldier. Then the environment will be created where the veteran will want to return.” – believes Nataliya Teryakhina, director of personnel at Kernel.
A comfortable space for veterans is a trend and part of the business plans of the main large businesses in Ukraine. However, most companies follow a scheme or imitate foreign experience, so their strategies are only partially working. According to VeteranHub, businesses that are truly immersed in the context of real problems and needs achieve the most success.
The head of the National Bank, Andrii Pishnyi, holds the same opinion:
“Inclusion is a philosophy of life that should make us stronger. Most likely, there will be no similar precedents in the world in terms of the number of people with disabilities. This is what the war has brought. We must create perhaps the largest inclusive society in the world.”.
To date, three Ukrainian companies, Ukrzaliznytsia, are considered an example to follow in the implementation of the veterans’ policy
“More than 10,200 employees of Ukrzaliznytsia are fighting in the ranks of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Of them, 1,000 veterans have returned home, this number is constantly growing. Our most important mission during the war is to support mobilized railway workers financially and to be in constant contact with them. Likewise, to create all conditions for the return to work of those returning from the war and to give confidence that they are expected at work”, – chairman of the board Yevhen Lyashchenko
The country’s largest employer is already implementing the strategy “Inclusive Railway: Employment”, that contains:
- legal support during the registration and completion of service and protection of the interests of veterans
- provision of medical, psychological, and legal consultations even before resuming work;
- formation of an algorithm for determining the position and functionality that best meet the veteran’s needs;
Silpo
The company has a separate department for issues of inclusivity and support for veterans, which is engaged in identifying problem points and finding tools to solve them. “Silpo” veteran policy is designed not only to support direct employees, but also suppliers.
So, in 2024, veteran entrepreneurs were able to present their products online as craft producers. Under the trade mark “Created by Defenders”, their products will be able to be sold on shelves for small producers in stores of the “Silpo” network.
DTEK
“We should be proud and grateful for what they have done. As an example of the approach, veterans will be able to find employment within an hour, instead of three days,” says Executive Director Dmytro Sakharuk
In 2022, a committee was established at each DTEK enterprise to take care of workers, Yaui became military, and their families. Also, the company partially covers the purchase of ammunition and joins the fees for units where its employees serve. Since last year, the “Veteran Plus” program, which provides for an expanded health insurance system, has been implemented here. It includes additional diagnostics, rehabilitation, medications, coverage for the treatment of chronic diseases or specific needs. Especially for veterans, the company created 50 positions where people with disabilities can work.
Insufficiency
Despite positive developments in the field of employment of veterans, experts point to the insufficient dynamics of the processes. Among the main reasons are:
- Insufficient involvement of small and medium-sized businesses
According to the latest research small companies do not lack finances to implement a veteran policy. However, it is small and medium-sized businesses that are the main employers in the country – more than 70% of jobs.
Small and medium-sized businesses also lack a global strategy. It is common for small businesses to financially support their workers but neglect to implement inclusion, such as a ramp at the entrance.
- Isolation of the state
93% of the companies participating in the study pointed to problems with outdated legislation, which slows down, and in some cases makes it impossible to implement policies for veterans.
Local authorities pay too little attention to the inclusiveness of public spaces and infrastructure. So even with decent working conditions, it is difficult for veterans with disabilities to get into the workplace.
In order to make civilian life comfortable for defenders returning home, it is necessary to join forces. Big business should share its experience with small companies, and the government should listen and respond.
