Study: Employers unready for wounded vets' return

[deadparrot]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Most employers are "unprepared" for the return of wounded veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and will have difficulty meeting their needs, according to a study released on Wednesday by the Insurance Information Institute (III).

At least 16,600 U.S. soldiers have been wounded, and many more of the 2 million who may serve in those arenas before the conflicts end could be traumatized, according to Robert Hartwig, chief economist for the III and author of the study.

Nearly a third of those troops are reservists and National Guard, who will be going back to their previous jobs. Hartwig said his survey shows that most employers don't understand their needs or the special benefits they're entitled to.

"These soldiers put their lives on the line and deserve the utmost respect," said Hartwig. "But even big companies haven't thought about their obligations to these people."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/financial_woundedsoldiers_study_dc

[SoCalDem]

1. That's the dirty little secret about our booming employment numbers

People who WERE unemployed are now doing the jobs of the reservists & guardsmen who are "over there"..

No "new" jobs were actually created.. (maybe a few Walmart-ish ones)..They have just been playing musical chairs, and using formerly unemployed as "fillers"...probably as temps with no bennies..

They will be in no rush to hire back vets who may be "unstable" or who have been injured. My guess is that the jobhs these folks once did, will have morphed into jobs that they are no longer qualified for, and they will be offered "less". The desperate ones will jump at it, but after a time, they may get phased out, or will leave on their own.

[skids]

2. U.S. Employers are unprepared in general.

Unprepared to make good business decisions.

Unprepared to turn a profit.

Unprepared to produce desirable products.

Unprepared to give raises (except to execs.)

Unprepared to hire anyone competant.

Unprepared to address the new energy economy.

Unprepared to pay pension obligations.

Unprepared to reduce environmental impact.

Unprepared to ensure worker safety.

Unprepared to be honest.

Unprepared to be a good "citizen."

Unprepared to compete.

[cornermouse]

3. Another dirty little secret in Bush's booming economy.

Employers have lots of non-disabled to choose from who don't have special needs or arrangements in order to be employed. Disabled can have special needs which sometimes requires extra cost and special arrangements or exceptions to be employed. That has the potential to subtract from their profits.

Put those two things together and I think you'll find that employers will continue to not think about their "obligations". I know that's the way the vast majority of them already operate with the non-war disabled.