As some of the nation's military personnel return from active duty to their
civilian jobs, the Department of Labor is trying to educate the returning servicemen
and servicewomen on their rights and prepare employers for the return of workers
on military leave, the Charleston Post Courier reports. For a Limited Time receive a
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Download Now"We're starting with the aircraft carriers Abraham Lincoln and the Constellation
because we understand they're returning home soon," says Labor Secretary
Elaine Chao. "And we'll continue to provide service to our National Guard
and reserves" through the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment
Rights Act.
USERRA requires that upon returning from service, members of the armed services
and its reserve components must be reinstated to their private civil jobs without
loss of seniority or benefits and without any break in service for pension purposes.
The Defense Department has activated 222,000 reservists and National Guard
members, according to the newspaper.
Chao tells the newspaper that labor experts will meet with returning personnel
to help facilitate a smoother transition from military service to civilian life.
"We want to help these people as soon as we can," Chao says. "We'll
be doing this for all departing military."
Assistant Secretary Frederico Juarbe says military personnel should know their
rights on reemployment before leaving the military, ensure they have health
insurance and contact their civilian employers to inform them when they will
be returning to work, the newspaper reports.
Employers and workers with concerns or problems can also seek information from
the Department of Defense's Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and
Reserve.
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