Mykhailo’s story: returning to work after military service

For Mykhailo, working at LEONI, an automotive company that manufactures wiring systems, has been a professional journey spanning more than a decade. He joined the company after graduating from college in 2012, worked across different production lines and projects, and later moved to the warehouse.

Russia’s full-scale invasion interrupted his career. After completing his military service, Mykhailo returned to work, but changes in his physical mobility meant that some of his usual tasks needed to be adapted. He was offered the opportunity to operate a forklift. Within a month, Mykhailo completed the necessary training, obtained his licence and took on his new responsibilities.

Returning to work required adjustments not only from Mykhailo himself, but also to the working environment and processes around him. His colleagues continue to support him in everyday situations, the administrator adapts certain procedures, and managers look for solutions when needed to enable him to carry out his work effectively.

Andrii Voloshchuk, Head of Warehouse Operations, says the experience has shown the team that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting veterans as they return to work.

“You need to approach each person individually and understand what matters to them at that particular moment. Even small adjustments, such as relocating a changing room or changing a particular work process or procedure, can make a significant difference. What matters most is attention, understanding and patience.”

For Mykhailo, returning to work has also helped him move forward:

“LEONI has become a kind of new chapter in my life, where I can essentially feel fully myself, without those kinds of limitations. [...] It has given me the impetus not to stop, but to keep going and continue working.”

LEONI was one of the companies participating in HR Boost For Better Employment, a project aimed at strengthening HR practices and promoting inclusive employment in Ukrainian companies.

Background

The project was implemented by the NGO Mentor Centre as part of the Multi Donor Initiative Skills4Recovery.

Skills4Recovery is jointly co-financed by the European Union, Germany, Poland, Estonia and Denmark. It is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Solidarity Fund PL (SFPL).