KNESS experience in implementing a veterans' support program

A flexible approach, comprehensive support and opportunities for each team member are among the KNESS principles. In the current context, when part of the team is defending our country or returning to work after military service, we continue to follow these outlined principles. For this purpose, we have established a separate program of integrated support and assistance for mobilized employees, veterans and their families.

How does KNESS engage with its mobilized employees? What was the basis for internal organizational transformations in working with veterans? How does our team work on veterans’ reintegration at the corporate level? We are sharing our experience!

Context: Lack of experience in supporting mobilized colleagues and reintegrating veterans

Solution

• Regulations that define the procedure for accompanying and supporting veterans, taking into account an individual approach to each situation: from the moment of mobilization to returning to civilian life
• Automation of processes through the ERP system for regular data updating on the statuses and requests of mobilized employees, and also to increase company response time in various situations

“When launching the project to develop a comprehensive veterans’ support program, we created a cross-team working group and secured the support of third-party experts from specialized organizations, such as Veteran Hub, who already have experience and expertise in this area. Gradually, we documented all the aspects that should be taken into account when working with veterans and envisaged systematic material support from the company to our mobilized colleagues. That’s why today we have a clearly defined process for the entire group of companies. And our IT specialists helped to automate the process to optimize the work and speed up the company’s response to different situations.” — Lyudmyla Savyuk, Head of Projects and Programs in the Field of Intangible Production in KNESS.

Context: Need of constant communication with the mobilized colleagues to strengthen the feeling of unity and connection with the team

Solution

• Systematic communication with the military and their families through the managers and a KNESS veterans’ support specialist in a convenient way
• Regular reminders about donations in corporate chats, a rubric with interviews and stories of mobilized colleagues about their experience of military service

“I text or call our mobilized colleagues and their families regularly, at least once a month. I have an agreement with everyone on the channel and frequency of communication. During the conversation, I try to ask about their requests and pass them on to the team. If necessary, I offer support from the company or contacts of specialized organizations. I also share news that may be useful to our defenders. Besides, I invite them to share their stories and experiences with the team through texts, and of course, remind them that we are looking forward to welcoming them back to the team.” — Mariana Hulchak, Specialist in Supporting Veterans and Demobilized Persons at KNESS.

Context: A large number of legislative specifics and confusing processes related to obtaining certificates / statuses / benefits, etc.

Solution

• Guidelines and roadmaps from KNESS legal experts
• Expert legal consultations
• Developed database of contacts for more specialized legal assistance

“Military personnel and veterans constantly face problems that require legal support. Most legal issues are generally not clear to people who have never encountered them before. Even highly qualified lawyers need to be on top of the situation because of the constant changes in the provisions of our country’s legislation, including those related to military law. Therefore, the priority of my work is to respond quickly to inquiries on legal issues from both mobilized and demobilized employees by providing advice, drafting the necessary packages of documents, certificates, roadmaps, etc. Helping soldiers and their families move consistently through all the processes that intersect with the legal sector is the basis of my work. They are fighting for our lives, and we (lawyers) have to fight for their rights.” — Oleksandra Shevchuk, Leading Legal Counsel at KNESS.

Context: Absence of a single information source on opportunities for the military and veterans

Solution

• “Veteran Book”: a guide to the corporate program of support for colleagues on military service and their families, algorithms for actions in different situations, as well as background information on state benefits, rights and social guarantees for military personnel, veterans and their families
• the group chat “Kolo Svoikh” with news, announcements and useful materials for the military, veterans, their families and colleagues

“The entire team worked on the Veteran Book, relying on the developments and recommendations of VeteranHub, gathering information in specialized communities to simplify the veteran’s journey for our colleagues. We also consolidate thematic news, announcements of events and trainings for veterans and their families, useful tips on stabilization, adaptation and rehabilitation, information on legal issues and benefits, as well as useful contacts in our group chat for colleagues and their families. In the same chat, we share stories and feedback from our colleagues about their service or experience of using certain services.” — Olha Medvedieva, Communications Specialist at KNESS.

Context: Difficulty of returning to work: peculiarities of documentary registration, social and psychological adaptation, the need to refresh competencies, change of position in case of partial disability

Solution

• Step-by-step administrative support in the processes of discharge from military service and return to work
• Development of individual adaptation, additional training and retraining programs for veterans, individual HR consultations
• Developed database of contacts and material support for psychological and physical rehabilitation
• Preparing and adapting the team to the veterans’ return

“There are many professionals among the veterans. That is why we are ready to find and offer opportunities for professional development to each and every one of them, to adapt to the conditions of cooperation and to support them where it is needed. That is why we have worked out all the peculiarities of documentary registration, revised our training programs, job requirements and work individually with each case.”— Lyudmyla Savyuk, Head of Projects and Programs in the Field of Intangible Production in KNESS.