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Employment Regulations

In the event that you are called to active duty, you are protected by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) against discrimination because of your service in the Armed Forces Reserve, the National Guard, or other uniformed services. USERRA prohibits an employer from denying any benefit of employment on the basis of an individual's membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service, or obligation for service in the uniformed services. USERRA also protects the right of veterans, Reservists, National Guard members, and certain other members of the uniformed services to reclaim their civilian employment after being absent due to military service or training.

Should a conflict arise with your employer as a result of your active duty responsibility, the following resources are available to help you.

The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is the agency within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs which promotes cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component members and their civilian employers and assists in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment.

An ESGR Ombudsmen Services Program was established to provide information, counseling and informal mediation of issues relating to compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. More than 95 percent of all such requests for assistance are resolved in this informal process, without requiring referral to the Department of Labor for formal investigation.

You can contact ESGR Ombudsmen Services through your local ESGR Committee or the National ESGR Headquarters, or by calling(800) 336-4590 and asking for Ombudsmen Services. ESGR Ombudsmen are qualified to help, sympathetic to the needs of both the employers and employees, and committed to remaining impartial in their counsel.

Additional valuable information and answers to questions on USERRA law can be found at the following Web sites:

U.S. Office of Special Council

Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service

Guard-Reserve Ombudsman Says 'All Quiet' On Employer Front