The Hidden Struggles Veterans Face at Work And What Employers Must Change

This isn’t the easiest story to share. But it needs to be heard.

Because it mirrors what too many veterans carry back with them, quietly, alone.

A U.S. Coast Guard vet recently shared something raw on Reddit.

He served for 12 years. Got out in 2022.

Found a steady warehouse job.

Good pay. Clean schedule.

Nothing fancy, but it was enough.

He wasn’t chasing meaning. He was chasing peace.

And that, in itself, is powerful.

To want just enough. To show up, do your hours, and go home with a clear head.

But somewhere along the way, something broke.

It started slow.

A few jokes. Forklift games.

The usual “busting balls” kind of warehouse humor.

But over time, he became the target.

Turned off propane tanks.

People sneaking up to startle him.

Being held to a different standard.

The laughing got louder. The days got longer.

And the silence inside him started to echo.

He asked them to stop. Nicely, at first.

Documented things.

Spoke to his supervisor.

It would calm down for a week… then come back.

And that’s the part that hits hardest.

Because when you’ve already trained your nervous system to stay alert in life-threatening situations, being messed with isn’t just annoying.

It’s destabilizing.

It’s triggering.

It’s exhausting.

He wasn’t looking for friendship.

Just a paycheck. Just space. Just dignity.

And now?

He works 12-hour shifts mostly in silence.

Not because he’s shy.

But because survival, after a while, becomes quiet.

This isn’t a story about one man.

It’s about all of us.

About how the workplace becomes a battleground for veterans who are just trying to rebuild.

How “harmless fun” can push someone closer to the edge.

How performance expectations shift unfairly when you’ve worn a uniform.

How mental health is still misunderstood, even in jobs labeled “low stress.”

To my friends in policy and enterprise, this is a wake-up call.

Upskilling isn’t just about tech courses and transition checklists.

It’s about culture.

Microcultures in warehouses. Shops. Startups.

It’s about equipping supervisors to recognize when “fun” becomes targeting.

About HR frameworks that work for veterans, not just tick boxes.

About trauma-informed teams, not just DEI slides in orientation.

To the founders building veteran-focused platforms:

• Think beyond placement.

• Think retention.

• Think dignity.

• Think belonging.

Not everyone’s looking for purpose.

Some just want peace.

Let’s design for that too.

And if you’re a veteran reading this, maybe nodding quietly then hear me out:

• You’re not weak for being affected.

• You’re not soft.

• You’re human.

If you’ve ever walked into a job that should be easy but felt like a minefield, then you are not alone.

Shift change isn’t “running away.”

It’s a boundary.

It’s a strategy.

It’s what survival looks like after service.

I don’t have perfect solutions.

But I’m listening.

And I know there are others like you, trying to find their footing again.

This space is for you.

So write to me. Tell me your story. Or just read silently and know this:

You’re seen. You’re respected. You still matter here.

We’re figuring it out. Together.