Pentagon Acknowledges Stress on Employees

In a document accompanying the recommendations, DoD said that while affected installations will still have missions to accomplish, the employees will be stressed about their careers and employment security. In this atmosphere, productivity will suffer and the employees’ overall quality of life may diminish.” The report cited job placement, transition and worker assistance programs including the priority placement program, early retirement and buyout authorities, financial assistance to homeowners who must sell in a market adversely affected by a base closing and assistance through state employment agencies. “Military commanders and human resource personnel have learned from previous BRAC rounds the importance of stressing job placement and training to employees. When dislocations are likely to be large, establishing transition assistance offices at the installation encourages a strong partnership for providing the range of programs available from the Department of Labor and the military departments,” it said.