Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
Encyclopedia
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is the lead Defense Department agency promoting cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and their National Guard and Reserve employees.
Established in 1972, ESGR operates within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. The agency’s responsibilities fall into three categories: Increasing awareness of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
, recognizing outstanding support of employers for their Guard and Reserve employees, and resolving workplace conflict through mediation.
1. To recognize, honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act;
2. To provide their leadership with the resources necessary to effectively manage Guard and Reserve employees;
3. To continually recognize and support service members and their families in peace, crisis and war.
The Chairman of the Board of General Motors
signed the first Statement of Support on December 13, 1972. Since then, thousands of employers—ranging from Chrysler
to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
—have followed suit, as did every cabinet secretary and federal agency in 2005.
While each ombudsman receives extensive training on USERRA and dispute-resolution techniques, ombudsmen do not offer legal counsel or advice. Instead, they serve as an informal, neutral and free resource. In 2008, ESGR ombudsmen successfully mediated over 70 percent of their 2,664 cases.
If an ESGR ombudsman is unable to facilitate a resolution, parties have the option to seek private counsel and/or a formal investigation through the Department of Labor’s Veterans' Employment and Training Service
, the Office of Special Counsel
, or the Department of Justice
.
Established in 1972, ESGR operates within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. The agency’s responsibilities fall into three categories: Increasing awareness of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 was signed into law by U.S. President Bill Clinton on October 13, 1994 to protect the civilian employment of non-full time military service members in the United States called to active duty...
, recognizing outstanding support of employers for their Guard and Reserve employees, and resolving workplace conflict through mediation.
Statement of Support
The Statement of Support program is the cornerstone of ESGR’s efforts to gain and maintain employer support. The program aims to develop employers into advocates for employee participation in the military. Employers who sign the statement make three commitments:1. To recognize, honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act;
2. To provide their leadership with the resources necessary to effectively manage Guard and Reserve employees;
3. To continually recognize and support service members and their families in peace, crisis and war.
The Chairman of the Board of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
signed the first Statement of Support on December 13, 1972. Since then, thousands of employers—ranging from Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is a semi-autonomous Native American homeland comprising twelve tribal districts. The Choctaw Nation maintains a special relationship with both the United States and Oklahoma governments...
—have followed suit, as did every cabinet secretary and federal agency in 2005.
Awards
To recognize employers for policies and practices that facilitate employee participation in the Guard and Reserve, ESGR initiated the following awards:- The Patriot Award honors supervisors for their superior support of Guard and Reserve employees. Nominations must come from a Guard or Reserve member or a family member. Nominated employers receive a certificate of recognition and a lapel pin.
- The Above and Beyond Award, ESGR’s second-level award, is selected and presented by ESGR field committees to recognize employers at the state level who have gone above and beyond the requirements of the Uniformed Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
- The Pro Patria award recognizes leadership practices and personnel policies that provide the greatest support to Guard and Reserve employees. Each ESGR field committee presents the award to one small, one large, and one public-sector employer in each committee’s state or territory.
- The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom AwardSecretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom AwardThe Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve...
is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to employers for their outstanding support of Guard and Reserve employees. Fifteen awards are presented annually to small, large, and public sector employers, who are further recognized in meetings with a senior governmental official, including the President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, or member of Congress.
Ombudsman Services Program
ESGR’s primary means for mediating workplace conflict is its Ombudsman Services Program. This national network consists of more than 900 volunteers within 56 field committees throughout the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.While each ombudsman receives extensive training on USERRA and dispute-resolution techniques, ombudsmen do not offer legal counsel or advice. Instead, they serve as an informal, neutral and free resource. In 2008, ESGR ombudsmen successfully mediated over 70 percent of their 2,664 cases.
If an ESGR ombudsman is unable to facilitate a resolution, parties have the option to seek private counsel and/or a formal investigation through the Department of Labor’s Veterans' Employment and Training Service
Veterans' Employment and Training Service
The United States Office of the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training was established by Secretary's Order No. 5-81 in December 1981....
, the Office of Special Counsel
United States Office of Special Counsel
The United States Office of Special Counsel is a permanent independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency whose basic legislative authority comes from three federal statutes, the Civil Service Reform Act, the Whistleblower Protection Act and the Hatch Act...
, or the Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
.