Reemployment Rights Can Get You Your Old Job Back
Under certain circumstances, veterans have the right to return to their pre-service jobs after
discharge or release from active duty. Your former employer must rehire you if you meet all of
the following requirements:
- You must have left other-than-temporary employment to enter military service.
AND
- You must have served in the Armed Forces (either voluntarily or involuntarily) no more than
five years, unless at the request of and for the convenience of the government.
AND
- You must have been discharged or released under honorable conditions.
AND
- You must still be qualified to perform the duties of the job. If you became disabled while
in military service, you must be able to perform some other job in your employer's organization
(with comparable seniority, status, and pay).
Contact the U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), for
assistance under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994. A
complete list of VETS state directors is available on the Internet at
http://www.dol.gov/vets/.
Your reemployment rights also protect you against being discharged by your employer without
cause for one year (six months in the case of a Reservist or National Guard member returning from
training).
Date Last Reviewed: June 29, 2009
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