Labor Integration: MHP explains how companies can prepare for hiring veterans
Kyiv • UNN
MHP offers equal employment opportunities to veterans by providing support and flexible working conditions: since the beginning of the full-scale war, more than 350 veterans have been employed and more than 50 new veterans have been hired.
The key to a full return to civilian life after the war is the opportunity to work and develop professionally. This opportunity is provided to Ukrainian veterans by MHP, which not only helps its employees who defended our country return to work, but also hires new professionals with military experience. An example of MHP's work with veterans was published by Work.ua, UNN reports .
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Thus, the company offers equal conditions for employment to veterans, the main thing is qualification, desire to work and develop. MHP's principle is competitive, equal, transparent conditions for all candidates. This approach allows us to foster a culture of open communication.
More than 350 veterans have already returned to work at MHP. Currently, more than 2,400 are at the front. In addition, we have already hired more than 50 new veterans since the start of the full-scale war. Overall, more than 10% of MHP employees are people with military experience.
Our female and male veterans should understand that in civilian life they can find a job or change their profession for free, create or scale their own business. And our defenders, who suffered disabilities as a result of combat operations, could return to an inclusive society where employers care about their needs
To prepare for hiring veterans, companies need to take several steps. First of all, they need to be in constant contact with the defenders.
MHP has been working with veterans since they joined the army. For military employees, the company keeps their jobs and salaries, responds to requests from the unit in which they serve, and keeps in touch with their families.
This means that we provide material, psychological and legal support, help with everyday issues, and provide medical support if necessary,
The company has set up a Center for Interaction with the Military and Veterans, whose coordinators are a tool that allows them to promptly receive a request from a veteran and ensure its closure, which, in turn, helps them adapt to the team and civilian life.
To stay in touch around the clock, we have a separate hotline and telegram channel specifically designed for the military and veterans. Thus, a veteran can contact MHP and tell us directly what concerns him or her: if he or she needs a medical examination, legal support, psychological support, or help with adaptation at the workplace. MHP organizes this as part of the MHP Next door program.
Secondly, it is necessary to conduct activities for comfortable onboarding of veterans and training for employees. In this direction, the company, with the support of the audit and consulting company EY, is implementing the No Limits project, which is an additional project of the large MHP Row program. It is about expanding employment and training opportunities for war veterans, people with disabilities, and people affected by war.
"We do this by updating our internal HR policies and practices for hiring, onboarding, and integrating staff," Moroz adds.
In addition, it is important to provide training opportunities so that veterans can retrain and improve their skills. Thus, MHP offers veterans the opportunity to return to their previous positions. But if their health condition does not allow it, we create an alternative position adapted to the capabilities and desires of the colleague.
"The company goes out of its way to create flexible working conditions and the ability to work remotely. This is especially important for people with disabilities," said Moroz.
To prepare for the employment of veterans, companies should introduce psychological support opportunities, if needed and requested, and introduce cultures of adaptability and inclusiveness in the company and community.
This approach will help to create an appropriate environment. Our company supports the following activities: fishing competitions for veterans, clay therapy classes, adaptive sports training, the Family Cradle event for defenders and their families, and, together with the Ukrainian Strongman Federation, the Victory of the Unconquered powerlifting competition for military and veterans,
Supporting veteran businesses and joining forces is equally important. According to the Ukrainian Veterans' Fund's Needs 2023 survey, 64% of veterans want to be entrepreneurs. Therefore, together with its strategic partner, MHP-Hromada, the company organizes grant competitions for veteran entrepreneurs and their families, such as #Worth Doing Your Own, Do Your Own, and Do Your Own with Kurator.
