Veterans and Job Satisfaction in the U.S. Federal Government: The Importance of Role Clarity in the First Years of Civilian Employment

Abstract

Veterans can face difficulties adjusting to civilian employment due to their experiences in highly structured and regimented military service organizations. This study focuses on factors that affect the job satisfaction of veterans employed in the civilian U.S. Federal Government. Drawing on sector imprinting theory, we propose that role clarity will have a stronger link with job satisfaction for government employees who have served in the military than for those who have not. Second, we argue that this difference will dissipate over time, with the importance of role clarity for veterans being strongest at the earliest stages of the transition to civilian employment. We present evidence for our theory from an analysis of the 2013 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. Finally, after discussing the limitations of our study, we suggest practical managerial tactics that can complement ambitious public sector veteran employment initiatives.