Taking care of ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally can be a challenge for anyone managing work and home life. For employees with disabilities, the aim to successfully manage disability-related needs amid other responsibilities, including work, can make self-care even more challenging.
Employers can play a critical role to support self-care for employees with disabilities.&nbsp;<a href="https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/new_study_shows/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Research</a>&nbsp;proves employees are more productive and engaged when they&rsquo;re happy at work. Conversely, workplace stress generally produces higher turnover, higher healthcare costs, and lower productivity. As a result, employers who create a culture of self-care in the workplace are more likely to experience overall business growth as a result of having engaged, healthy employees.
Formal employee wellness/wellbeing programs are on the rise in businesses of all industries and sizes. In fact, they are consistently included as a part of some companies&rsquo; benefits packages. Strong programs provide tools, resources, support that can include activities focused on stress reduction, weight loss, and smoking cessation. Other common programs include health risk assessments, health screenings, exercise and nutrition activities, and vaccination clinics.
How can I establish an Inclusive Culture of Self-Care in the Workplace?
Whether you&rsquo;re planning to develop an extensive employee wellness program, or implement a few wellness strategies, here are a few ideas to help you establish and cultivate a culture of self-care within your workplace that&rsquo;s inclusive of employees with disabilities:
<ol>
<li>Encourage Mindfulness&nbsp;&ndash; Many companies are incorporating mindfulness into their employee wellness programs, as it has proven to help employees take a proactive approach to managing their mental health, stress, and emotions in the workplace. For some employers, this includes hosting mindfulness practices, such as meditation trainings, lunchtime chair massages, or yoga sessions, including&nbsp;<a href="http://www.yourowngentleapproach.com/what-is-adaptive-yoga/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">adaptive yoga</a>&nbsp;for employees with disabilities. Others encourage use of free meditation apps, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.headspace.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Headspace</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.calm.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Calm</a>. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Offer Flexible Work Schedules&nbsp;&ndash; Employees with flexible work schedules are often more satisfied, as this allows them to better control their overall schedules and manage emergencies. For employees with disabilities, there are typically even greater benefits. Opportunities for flexible work schedules eliminate the need for stressful commutes; allow the ability to plan around disability-related needs, including doctors&rsquo; appointments and medication; and provide freedom to live in locations that are more beneficial for their needs (i.e. warmer climates). &nbsp;</li>
<li>Promote Physical Health, Including Adequate Rest&nbsp;&ndash; Physically healthy employees, including those who get enough rest, generally experience less exhaustion, more productivity, and reduced healthcare costs. Employers can encourage physical health in a variety of ways, from providing healthy snacks in break rooms and vending machines, to offering in-house workout classes or discounts/reimbursements for gym memberships. Additionally, some employers host activity groups, such as exercise clubs. Employers should allow space for each employee, no matter their physical abilities, to participate in such groups in whatever capacity they are able. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Celebrate Employees&rsquo; Work&nbsp;&ndash; Simply taking time to acknowledge employees work and accomplishments can significantly boost morale. Whether it&rsquo;s hitting a big milestone or managing a customer conflict, managers should seek out opportunities to affirm their employees for a job well-done. Not only does this prompt greater employee loyalty, but it also helps employees view their supervisors as trustworthy and feel more satisfied in their jobs. Even still, some employers set aside specific celebration days, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2017/02/27/5-ways-to-celebrate-employee-appreciation-day-friday-march-3rd/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Employee Appreciation Day</a>&nbsp;in March or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iaap-hq.org/page/AdminProDay" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Administrative Professionals Week</a>&nbsp;in April, to purposefully plan something for their employees. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Encourage Breaks, Including PTO&nbsp;&ndash; Taking regular breaks, ideally away from the work environment, can provide much needed rejuvenation. This includes taking a full lunch break away from the computer, along with mid-morning/afternoon breaks to refocus. Additionally, employers should foster a culture that encourages employees to take time off. Whether this is a longer vacation that&rsquo;s been planned, or a &ldquo;mental health day,&rdquo; employees should feel comfortable taking earned leave, and expectations regarding checking email and phone messages while taking leave should be communicated. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Set Realistic Expectations Around Technology Use&nbsp;&ndash; Constant access to technology often creates unspoken expectations regarding employee response times to emails and other messages. Employers should clearly communicate expectations about the types of circumstances that should warrant immediate response (i.e. an emergency), especially after work hours. Ideally, employees should be given opportunities to set their own communication boundaries that support their work styles. For some, this may mean immediately responding to emails at any time to help reduce their overall tasks. For others, this could mean setting strict time boundaries around when they will and will not respond to messages. This is especially helpful for employees with neurocognitive disabilities that perform best with structure and schedules. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Provide Social Support&nbsp;&ndash; Employees who are a part of a supportive work environment also prove to be happier and more productive. Employers should facilitate opportunities for employees to build relationships among their coworkers, including creating collaborative work spaces, hosting in- and out-of-office bonding activities, and developing internal mentorship programs. Workplace mentoring proves especially beneficial for employees with disabilities. Among other benefits, receiving guidance and support from mentors can help employees with disabilities navigate new work environments and relationships, identify and request appropriate accommodations to help ensure their success, and provide ideas to help with career growth. </li>
</ol>
In addition to incorporating wellness programs, some companies are partnering with consulting firms like&nbsp;<a href="https://theenergyproject.com/about/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Energy Project</a>&nbsp;to help them assess their practices and support employee growth through a scientifically-based approach to energizing people, ultimately helping employees perform at their best.
Companies that desire to retain employees and ensure overall employee satisfaction should make employee self-care a priority. For more ideas on how to incorporate self-care practices for employees with disabilities in your workplace, or to learn how you can better support your own self-care,&nbsp;contact the Getting Hired team.
Contributions to this blog were made by Andra&eacute;a LaVant of Solutions Marketing Group.&nbsp;

Support self-care for employees with disabilities to boost productivity and engagement. Learn how to create an inclusive culture.

7 Tips for Employers to Support Self-Care for Employees with Disabilities

8 Simple Tips and Tricks To Help Land Your Next Job From applications to r&eacute;sum&eacute;s to interviews, it can feel overwhelming to know how to communicate to potential employers that you are the right candidate for their job opening. 
Luckily, there are simple ways to make your voice stand out from the crowd and make a great impression on a hiring manager. With that in mind, here are our top 8 simple tips and tricks to help land your next job. 
Have a professional email address. Think of your email address as an extension of your resume. Receiving a job application and cover letter from machoman66@email.com can send the wrong impression to recruiters. Instead, use an email based on your name so recruiters can easily find your email in their inbox. Use keywords from the job description in your r&eacute;sum&eacute;. Many recruiters use scanning software to filter through applications. These softwares look for keywords that also appear in the job description. Tweaking your r&eacute;sum&eacute; to include these keywords can help your application reach the next phase. Share your unique perspective. When writing your cover letter, include what perspectives you have that make you unique. For example, highlighting that you are a veteran can communicate that you are punctual, dedicated, and a team player. Create a stand-out LinkedIn profile. More often than not, recruiters turn to social media to learn more about job candidates. Your LinkedIn profile, the main social networking site for professionals, should be up-to-date with clean photos and all relevant job experience. Develop an elevator pitch. Whenever you find yourself in a position to connect with a new person about a job opportunity, such as a job fair or networking event, recruiters want to know who you are quickly. Preparing a 1-minute or less speech about yourself, your experience, and your ideal job can help you feel more comfortable marketing yourself. Do your research. Come to your job interview prepared by researching the company with whom you are interviewing. If you are applying for a marketing position, for example, familiarizing yourself with their most recent marketing campaigns can wow the interview team. Phone a friend. Ask a friend to help you prepare by having a mock interview. Rehearsing the answers to potential interview questions can help relax your nerves and come into the real interview confidently.

Land your next job with these 8 simple tips and tricks to stand out to potential employers.

8 Simple Tips and Tricks To Help Land Your Next Job

Adjusting to post-military life tends to be difficult for many veterans. You are leaving not just a way of life, but an experience. Upon leaving the military veterans tend to focus on things like finding a job, reconnecting to their family and community, and helping others &mdash; but one thing that often gets left to the wayside is physical and mental health. Choosing a post-deployment job is already a massive decision, so much so that diet, exercise, and self-care can be forgotten about. Keeping these items top of mind can truly make a difference and help veteran employees feel secure not only in the workplace but in their health as well. 
<h2>Spend Time Focusing on Physical Health</h2>
There is a good portion of veterans state that they have good physical health post-service, usually due to the fitness levels they had while in the military. However, a <a href="https://www.research.va.gov/currents/0120-Health-ranks-as-top-concern-for-Veterans.cfm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">study done by the VA</a> showed that after leaving the military more than half of participating veterans stated that they had chronic physical health problems. This could be chronic pain if they received an injury in service, sleep problems, or mental health issues.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The BRFSS</a>, or the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for the CDC, collects data from all 50 states and takes notes on health risk behaviors, health conditions, and much more. In this data, veterans are called out as well, showcasing where issues for veterans may lie post-military service. The data showcases that veterans are less likely to rate their overall health as good compared to those who weren&rsquo;t in service. 
&nbsp;
On top of self-reflection, veterans often suffer from common injuries that range from sprains and strains to more serious injuries like gunshot wounds, loss of limbs, or hearing loss related to noise exposure. Also, high blood pressure is another health concern commonly associated with veterans. While it may not seem detrimental, almost half of veterans are diagnosed with high blood pressure, which increases the chance of heart disease. Proactively setting aside time for a few walks a day can help alleviate some of this pain as well as help your heart, making your <a href="https://www.prevention.va.gov/Healthy_Living/Be_Physically_Active.asp" rel="noopener" target="_blank">physical health a priority</a> without adding too much to your plate. 
<h2>Ask Potential Employers about Health Benefits</h2>
Even though you may have access to the VA, you must be aware of the health benefits your employer may have in place too. Your employer should provide resources for you to have easy access to if you have health conditions related to your time in service.
&nbsp;
While most employers may focus on being <a href="https://www.eeoc.gov/employers" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Equal Employment Opportunity</a> based as well as follow the <a href="https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/understanding-your-employment-rights-under-americans-disabilities-act-guide-veterans" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Americans with Disabilities Act</a>, it&rsquo;s important to pay attention to what your employer offers once hired. They should offer accessibility in the workplace, and usually, the VA can help set up these accommodations with your employer if the lifestyle changes seem like drastic ones. 
&nbsp;
On top of these benefits through the VA, your employer should have healthcare options as well as dental, vision, and 401(k) plans that you can be a part of. While it is up to the discretion of the employer to have these plans, larger companies like grocery stores, retail businesses, and national brands, usually have <a href="https://www.paychex.com/articles/employee-benefits/5-things-about-offering-benefits-for-part-time-employees" rel="noopener" target="_blank">benefits for their full-time and part-time employees</a>. If you are a veteran that is choosing this route rather than something full-time, it&rsquo;s wise to ask if these are available! This is especially true if working in a field that comes with hazardous conditions, such as construction, being a first responder, or labor-intensive work. If not, make sure that the VA can provide benefits, or that they can work with your employer for a plan that works for you and your family. 
<h2>Stay on Top of Current Legislation, If You Can</h2>
Believe it or not, some of the best ways to be aware of your benefits after deployment is to take note of changes that are going on in the veteran community. Recently, the Honoring our PACT Act was signed into effect, which is the <a href="https://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/bill-may-allow-camp-lejeune-water-contamination-victims-file-lawsuit/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">biggest expansion for the VA</a> in 30 years or so. This bill opens up medical and financial coverage to veterans impacted by toxic substances in the military that were commonly found in burn pits, <a href="https://www.mesothelioma.com/states/north-carolina/camp-lejeune/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">at military bases</a>, and used across combat., New legislation, such as the PACT Act can be a lifeline for veterans post-service. 
&nbsp;
Far too often, veterans neglect their health due to the rising costs of healthcare. Luckily, <a href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/voices/veterans/info-2022/pact-act.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The PACT Act</a> covers something called the &ldquo;Cost of Toxic Exposures Fund,&rdquo; which helps pay for the health care and benefits related to being exposed to hazards while in service. Not only does this help cover veterans' health care costs, but also helps families as well if they were exposed in housing units or through secondhand exposure to these chemicals. 
&nbsp;
While it may be hard to stay in the know about all things related to healthcare for veterans, working with your local VA can help you find the support and resources you need to stay healthy. The PACT Act also outlines that the VA will be more proactive in making those materials available. 
&nbsp;
As you start to make your way into the workforce after your time in the military, you must focus on your health, both physically and mentally. It can be hard to make time for yourself; the good thing is there are plenty of resources to make sure that you do.

Transitioning from military to civilian life? Keep your health in check with these essential tips.

Managing Your Health After Deployment in the Workplace | Getting Hired

Managing Your Health After Deployment in the Workplace

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142 Articles

7 Tips for Employers to Support Self-Care for Employees with Disabilities

8 Simple Tips and Tricks To Help Land Your Next Job

Managing Your Health After Deployment in the Workplace