Over the past decade, we have seen the largest military
deployment since World War II. Our troops are now withdrawn
from Iraq, and thousands more are scheduled to return from
Afghanistan over the course of 2013. By the end of 2014,
nearly 1.5 million veterans will have returned from combat
operations in those two countries alone. Many will apply for
reemployment with physical or mental impairments that potentially
trigger a host of statutory obligations, ranging from the Uniformed
Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) to the
Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA).
As our vets come marching home, it is important to reexamine the
legal and practical ramifications for reintegrating them into your
workplace. Effective reintegration calls for a top-down
commitment from management, with an emphasis on proper training and
education for supervisors and managers alike.
