Veteran adaptation and the role of business: Key takeaways from the EBA ESG Hub meeting

23/ 05/ 2025

Listen to online Stop   On 22 May, an offline meeting of the EBA ESG Hub’s Working Group on Veteran Practices and Policies took place. The session focused on the importance of psychological resilience as a key asset for businesses in times of turbulence. Special attention was given to the social adaptation of veterans, including veterans with disabilities, as well as their readiness for employment and self-employment. Discussions also addressed psychosocial risks in the workplace and strategies for managing them. The meeting featured the results of an in-depth study on the social adaptation of veterans conducted by the NGO “Institute of Human Science Soul*lab” and the online service Dodomu. Additionally, analytics from Mental Space were presented, highlighting the economic cost of emotional disorders and the state of mental health among Ukraine’s population during the war. Participants discussed the differences between the experience of returning from the front and formal demobilisation, as well as the psycho-emotional state of veterans with amputations compared to other military personnel. Other key topics included: the heroisation and stigmatisation of veterans, conflicts within teams, the development of veteran entrepreneurship, psychological changes after returning from the front, and potential approaches employers can take to support veteran employees.

On 22 May, an offline meeting of the EBA ESG Hub’s Working Group on Veteran Practices and Policies took place. The session focused on the importance of psychological resilience as a key asset for businesses in times of turbulence. Special attention was given to the social adaptation of veterans, including veterans with disabilities, as well as their readiness for employment and self-employment. Discussions also addressed psychosocial risks in the workplace and strategies for managing them.

The meeting featured the results of an in-depth study on the social adaptation of veterans conducted by the NGO “Institute of Human Science Soul*lab” and the online service Dodomu. Additionally, analytics from Mental Space were presented, highlighting the economic cost of emotional disorders and the state of mental health among Ukraine’s population during the war.

Participants discussed the differences between the experience of returning from the front and formal demobilisation, as well as the psycho-emotional state of veterans with amputations compared to other military personnel. Other key topics included: the heroisation and stigmatisation of veterans, conflicts within teams, the development of veteran entrepreneurship, psychological changes after returning from the front, and potential approaches employers can take to support veteran employees.