Coping with the strains of call-up—loneliness, fear, uncertainty, and carrying a burden that had been shared can weigh heavily on remaining family members. Employers can provide professional mental health and well-life counseling to citizen-soldiers, who are experiencing hardship, their spouses, and even other family members. A child whose parent is on active military duty will have worries and concerns that may affect school achievement, relationships with friends, and personal issues.

Many corporations have Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) that can assist with these kinds of situations on a case-by-case or long-term basis. In other circumstances, the employer may wish to pay for professional counseling when needed by family members of the activated employee. If a number of employees have been called to active duty, therapeutic support groups of families of those employees might be organized and supported.

Sometimes the psychological unease comes from a lack of understanding of what pay, benefits, and other support are available. Employers can help—through senior executives, supervisors, and/or human resource specialists—by providing clear, concise information about what is covered and what is not. If an employer chooses not to provide certain benefits, for instance, the family should definitely understand that the specific benefits are not currently available to them. Ambiguity is your enemy here and should be avoided.

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