Saw an interesting article in last week’s Navy Times that backs up what this Navy reservist wife has been saying for the last two years.
Overt discrimination in employment and re-employment stemming from employer ignorance of reservists’ legal rights has diminished, but more subtle discrimination is on the rise, says the executive director of the Reserve Officers Association.
Retired Army Maj. Gen. David Bockel, who took over as executive director of the 70,000-member group in November, said outreach to employers has helped them better understand dthe legal rights of National Guard and reserve members. But it hasn’t stopped more devious forms of discrimination, he said.
Continue Reading »
Posted by Sara Horn on
February 17, 2010 in
Military
As the war goes on and employers wary of seeing their Guard and Reserve members leave every three to four years for deployment (not counting training times and weekend drills), violations of upholding USERRA are bound to occur.
Matthew Tully, the attorney and National Guard major I mentioned in my last post, told me there is really no number one violation he can point to; though most firings end up in the news, these aren’t that common and usually result because of a manager’s not thinking – firing someone for being five minutes late two weeks after getting an outstanding evaluation and a big bonus and a week after they were notified the employee was going to Afghanistan.
Continue Reading »
Posted by Sara Horn on
August 26, 2009 in
Military
Working on a chapter for Weekend Warrior No More and writing a section about what Guard and Reserve families can do to protect or keep their small business afloat when the service member is deployed.
If you or someone you know has been in this situation – self-employed and a Reserve or Guard member who was deployed, please contact me. I’d like to hear your story. (sara @ sarahorn.com).
Posted by Sara Horn on
October 3, 2008 in
Military
One of the biggest challenges National Guard and Reserve members and their families face when deployments occur is dealing with the workplace back home. Deployments put civilian jobs on hold and fears of financial losses, missing opportunities for promotion, and worries about when a servicemember comes home can really impact and affect a family. It’s tough enough if you have your own business, knowing you will essentially have to start over when you return if you don’t have the right people to keep it going while you’re gone; it can be even harder trying to explain your situation to a boss – especially if that boss has zero understanding when it comes to the military. When you do have a boss that understands – or is at least supportive – well, that’s half the battle right there.
Tennessee to get award for supporting of National Guard, reserve
Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen and state government will be among those honored for supporting the National Guard. Bredesen will receive the 2007 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Sept. 12, according to a press release.
Altogether, the Department of Defense will honor 15 employers from across the United States. Among other winners are General Motors Corp. and Dollar Thrifty.
In the public sector, the New Hampshire State Police is among winners.
Other recipients include: Augustine and Sons, Inc. – Rose Hill, Iowa;
Con-way, Inc. – San Mateo, Calif.; Creative Healthcare Solutions – Scottsdale,
Ariz.; CHE Consulting, Inc. – Fenton, Mo.; Gantt’s Excavating & Contracting,
Inc. – Martinsburg, W. Va.; Nucor Corp. – Charlotte, N.C.; Sierra Pacific
Resources – Nevada Power – Las Vegas, Nev.; Sodexho USA – Gaithersburg, MD;
Turbocam International – Dover, N.H. Ultra Machining Company – Monticello, Minn;
and Wilmington VA Medical Center – Wilmington, Del.
Posted by Sara Horn on
September 8, 2007 in
Military
