Office of the Attorney General |
September 3, 1998
MEMORANDUM FOR HEADS OF DEPARTMENT COMPONENTS
FROM: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
SUBJECT:
Support of the National Guard and Reserve Members
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
of 1994 (USERRA)
called for the Federal Government to be the Nation's "model employer"
of National Guard and
Reserve (NGR) members. Congress passed this Act, which is codified
at 38 United States Code
Section 4301 et seq., to encourage NGR service, to minimize the disruption
that such service may
cause both employees and employers, and to prohibit discrimination
against employees because
of their service.
The goals of the USERRA are best achieved by promoting and facilitating
communication and
cooperation between employers and their employees who participate in
the NGR. The National
Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (NCESGR), a
committee under the
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, was established
to promote such cooperation.
The Committee employs over 4200 volunteers dedicated to promoting good
relations between
"citizen-soldiers," and their civilian employers through education,
communication, and mediation.
Additionally, the Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training
Services (VETS)
provides outreach services, formal assistance, and investigation of
USERRA claims.
Given the call for the Federal Government to be the Nation's "model
employer" of NGR participants,
we must support and embrace the programs and efforts of the NCESGR
and VETS. We must also
recognize and address any unnecessary and unwarranted barriers to service
in the NGR. While I
realize that some of our employees cannot vacate their positions with
the Department during a
mobilization of the Reserves, we must fully support those employees
who make the sacrifices when
military service is required.
In working toward the Department being a "model employer" of NGR members, I am asking you to:
Attachment
[Not included]