Employees with PTSD could require accommodations

As more veterans are returning to the work force, employers should be aware that some of those employees could be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and accommodations may be necessary to help those employees cope.

In fact, the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 11 percent of veterans returning from Afghanistan suffer from PTSD while this is true for 20 percent of veterans returning from Iraq. Even 7 percent  to 8 percent of civilians are estimated to develop PTSD at some point in their lives, says Dr. Doug Hicks, mental health case manager of The Standard. With so many people possibly inflicted with PTSD, it can hurt productivity, especially when considering the syndrome’s symptoms.