Over the past month, I have shared information from a collaboration of the State Bar of Arizona in an initiative to assist military personnel who were formerly deployed. As the organizers point out, those former servicemembers may face numerous challenges, including legal obstacles.
The campaign recommends ways that Arizona lawyers may get involved.
In the multi-week information campaign, this week’s message relates to the important matter of jobs, specifically as it relates to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. (Read our previous Arizona Attorney Magazine coverage of the Act here).
As the campaign’s organizers say:
Servicemembers return home from deployment believing their jobs are waiting for them. For some, the joy of coming home is short lived when they find their employer has replaced them.
After serving their country, their jobs should be waiting.
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) prohibits employer discrimination because of military service and protects job rights and benefits for servicemembers.
Many employers are not aware of these protections.
USERRA provides protection for:
- Military leave of absence
- Job seniority
- Status
- Pay and benefits
- Promotion and pension
- Disability as a result of military service
Returning servicemembers are entitled to jobs comparable to their peers whose careers were not interrupted by military service. Employers are required to make reasonable efforts to upgrade the skills of returning employees so they can qualify for the positions they would have earned had they not left for military service.
Learn how you can help protect their employment rights.
To sign up, go here.
Follow the effort on Twitter.
Follow @azatty
AZ Attorney 
August 14, 2013 at 7:54 pm
I’m glad you are an advocate in this worthy cause. Keep up the good work.
August 15, 2013 at 10:35 am
It’s a great program, Tony, and many of these servicemembers face huge challenges. Thanks.