Reservists Say War Makes Them Lose Jobs

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Aug 15, 2004 | LARRY MARGASAK -- Associated Press Writer

[Willie Green]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Increasing numbers of National Guard and Reserve troops who have returned from war in Iraq and Afghanistan are encountering new battles with their civilian employers at home. Jobs were eliminated, benefits reduced and promotions forgotten.

Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Labor Department reports receiving greater numbers of complaints under a 1994 law designed to give Guard and Reserve troops their old jobs back, or provide them with equivalent positions. Benefits and raises must be protected, as if the serviceman or servicewoman had never left.

Some soldiers, however, are finding the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act can't protect them.

[luvbach1]

Some soldiers, however, are finding the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act can't protect them.

Why?

[SunStar]

Well, maybe they shouldn't have joined the reserves... Sheesh. I think protecting the USA is better than a checkout job at Kroger...

[PersonalLiberties]

I read the article and some people were injured and some jobs have been eliminated altogether.

[tbird5]

Don't these guys get paid by the government while they are employed? Too bad.

[Leatherneck_MT]

While the 1994 law strengthened previous protections, it doesn't help doctors, lawyers or small business owners who depend on maintaining a client base. It doesn't save jobs eliminated by plant closings or budget cuts. And it doesn't help injured troops who can no longer perform the work they once did.

Well by god it SHOULD

[Leatherneck_MT]

Too bad?

Am I hearing you right? Our boys get sent overseas to fight a war for us and come back to a situation where their employer
is saying basically "Too bad" and you agree with that?

Is that what you are saying?

[lelio]

I think protecting the USA is better than a checkout job at Kroger...

You're always free to send a check to his wife and kids to support them in the meantime.

What employer in their right mind would hire a reservist now, knowing that instead of weekend trips and maybe a couple of months away, reservists are told to go away for 6 months of training and then a year in Iraq? What small business can keep a job around for 1.5 years?

[sharktrager]

Just curious...did you actually click the link and read the article?

[aragorn]

Perhaps you should reconsider your position.

In case you did not realize it, many of our Reserve and National Guard service members are professionals in the civilian world, and hold jobs that pay far in excess of a "checkout job at Kroger". These service members bring valuable skills to the table apart from just what military training and experience they have, and, much of this civilian experience can be very valuable in completing the multi-faceted missions that our reserve forces are being tasked with these days.

Not all missions into a combat zone are strictly combat - many involve nation-building or -rebuilding, and sometimes the civilian experience that a reservist brings along can make the difference between mission success and failure.

In my case, my employer was extremely generous, so my deployment to Afghanistan was not a financial hardship (and there was a large RIF while I was gone, and another one not long after I returned - both of which I managed to survive). However, not all reservists are so fortunate.

Why do you look down your nose at those men and women who are willing to volunteer to leave their homes and families and full-time jobs, for many months at a time, only to find out that (in some case) the promises that were made them before they left were not kept? Are these people unworthy of your support and respect for some reason? If so, why?

These service members dropped everything to answer the call - do their job - when the nation called. Clearly, they DO and DID believe that "protecting the USA" IS important. But, when their tour is over, they no longer have an active duty military job, and if the civilian job they left is not there (as is supposed to be guaranteed by law), then is that not a heavy price to pay for the privilege of doing their part to serve their country, and the citizens thereof (of which you, my friend, are a seemingly uncaring member)?

Geez, what is it with all the Reserve and National Guard bashing these days? These nation needs these troops more than every before - you'd think we could act like it, and treat them with the respect they deserve...

sigh.

[keats5]

I'm not sure if it's true, but I got an email saying Sears has promised to keep the jobs for any of it's military employees open until they return. I bought a stove from them last week.

[SunStar]

I'm not bashing the Reserves. What I'm saying is that the Reserves are exactly that... "reserves", to be used in a time of war, say, like World War IV. They should not be surprised that they are being deployed, nor that an employer is unable to hold their civilian jobs for an indefinite amount of time. Plus, the active-duty military is certainly able to hire those reservists who lost their civilian jobs. And as far as the poor little wife and kids at home, we in the civilian world have the same problems. I thank all military servicemen and women for their service to the country. And for those who complain that they've been called to war, well, welcome to the post 9/11 nation. The military is more than just a GI bill or a second income.

[SunStar]

You're always free to send a check to his wife and kids to support them in the meantime.

Thanks for the offer, but I have my own to worry about.

[pop-aye]

I'm not bashing the Reserves.

You are.

They should not be surprised that they are being deployed, nor that an employer is unable to hold their civilian jobs for an indefinite amount of time.

I do not know a single reservist who is surprised to be called up, once, twice, even more. HOWEVER, there is a law to protect these members from being forced out of a job simply because they have been called to the defense of this great country. The employer is not required to hold the job, simply to re-employ the member at a commensurate rate when they return. I could argue that the employers should not be surprised by this either as the law has been on the books for a number of years.

Plus, the active-duty military is certainly able to hire those reservists who lost their civilian jobs.

Surprisingly, this is not true. In fact of the applications I have seen of reservists requesting to go back to active duty, over half are disapproved.

And for those who complain that they've been called to war, well, welcome to the post 9/11 nation. The military is more than just a GI bill or a second income.

Again, I have known zero reservists who have complained about being recalled. There have been a million responses, but every one of them has understood prior to the recall that it was part of the duty they signed up for. What this article refers to is not a complaint about being recalled, but simply wanted protection under the current law. This isn't about the GI bill. They are being recalled to protect this country and stand in support of it's system of laws. I don't feel they are wrongly expecting those laws to be followed in their situation.

If you don't like the law, then I suggest you write your lawmaker and suggest a revision to it. But until then, I, for one, will support and defend those who are not here because they are off supporting and defending me.

[KC_Conspirator]

I am surprised at some of the selfish talk on this thread. All the law says is that employers can't discriminate against reservists, yet that is just what they are doing. I have experienced this myself.

This has been law since Nixon was in the WH.

[aragorn]

I doubt that there are many in the reserves that are surprised at a deployment these days. Oh, there may be a very few (and you can bet that it is those few who will be hauled out by the media, instead of the thousands that do just what they signed up to do - answer the call when needed). Very few of these reservists complain when called up, not all of them look at the Reserve as just "a GI bill and a second income".

I disagree with your assertion that "the active-duty military is certainly able to hire those reservists who lost their civilian jobs". Perhaps, in some cases, this may be true - but the main reason we are using the Reserves so heavily these days is because of the active duty draw down that occurred over the last decade! Thus, the slots are NOT always available.

While I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you are not bashing the Reserves, I find your attitude just a bit cavalier. That is, of course, your right, but one would hope that you give a little thought to what sacrifices some of these men and women are asked to make before brushing off their situations so glibly.

[Spottys Spurs]

Thanks to you both for the well-stated support of the reservists. I think it's too easy for many of us to lose sight of the many sacrifices they are making in our collective behalfs. I have several neighbors who were affected by call-ups. Many have teenage children, some have working wives; but, all have answered their call to duty without moaning and complaining. The least we can do at home is go that extra step to help them on their return to the USA. The financial and emotional burdens are often time quite great on these folks and their families. I, for one, agree that companies need to do more for them!

[kenth]

Thanks for the offer, but I have my own to worry about.

If you stop and think about it for a minute, those men and women whose predicaments you brushed aside are looking out for your own too.

[momincombatboots]

Sheesh. I think protecting the USA is better than a checkout job at Kroger...
Clearly speaking out of an ignorance as to the personnel in the US Reserves. That's OK, ignorance is forgivable. Educational news flash: Many reservists hold one or more degrees and have high paying jobs, own their own business, etc.. For example, Civil Affairs organizations are comprised of highly skilled soldiers. I know, I was one. And believe me, I have NEVER checked groceries at Kroger. When you are getting paid more privately, then realize you are gonna be shipped out for a few months, its something to adjust to. When its more along the lines of a year or two, then it's a financial hardship on anybody. Imagine that effect on a family who is learning to cope with a missing piece of their family puzzle.
To ease your comprehension of the situation, subtract 10 or 15 THOUSAND dollars a year from your pay. Pick whichever charity you desire, I would recommend the Special Operations Fund.
Reserves are not full time soldiers, currently they are being used as such. Thanks to the Clinton administration, which reduced active duty components much too aggressively... (Might I rant for a moment) Knowing that our country was being targeted by terrorist groups. Our reservists are paying for the liberal administrations irresponsibility.
Assuming our reservists are grocer checkouts to justify employees situations... Sounds like a liberal to me.

[DameAutour]

I think it's a shame that these people have lost their jobs. But after reading the article, what are the employers supposed to do?

If someone receives an injury that makes it impossible for them to do their job, they should apply for disability. How can the employer be expected to rehire them? Rehire them to do what?

If a job is eliminated because the place went out of business, what are they supposed to do? Re-open the plant for one person?

"Chambers, the substance abuse consultant, agreed budget cuts left his former nonprofit employer no choice but to eliminate his job."

Yeah, and what are they supposed to do in that circumstance? Make the money magically appear? It's not as if the government is providing compensation to the employers to keep these jobs available.

"While the 1994 law strengthened previous protections, it doesn't help doctors, lawyers or small business owners who depend on maintaining a client base. It doesn't save jobs eliminated by plant closings or budget cuts. And it doesn't help injured troops who can no longer perform the work they once did."

Are we going to force people to stay with a doctor that's been deployed? Not allow someone to patronize another business or hire another lawyer? Bad things happen in this world, and the government CANNOT PROTECT YOU FROM EVERY BAD THING.

I think all of those with a legitimate complaint should pursue it vigorously, and I was happy to read that the government has been vigilant in their dealings with employers. But there are some things that no one can do anything about.