|
 Printer-Friendly Version
VETS News Release: [12/02/2003]
Contact Name: Mike
Biddle
Phone Number: (202) 693-5051
Labor Secretary Honors Employer Support of the Guard and
Reserve for Increasing Awareness of National Guard and Reserve Reemployment
Rights
WASHINGTON—U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao presented a
certificate of appreciation to Mr. Bobby Hollingsworth, executive director of
the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), for that
organization’s efforts in assisting National Guard and Reserve personnel
re-entering the 21st century workforce, and increasing public
awareness of their job-reinstatement rights. The award was presented during a
luncheon meeting of the President’s Council on the 21st Century
Workforce at the Department of Labor.
“Among the key missions at the Department of Labor is to help
workers be prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century
workplace. Workers need skills training to be more competitive in a global
economy. Our country needs to address the skills gap, help families balance the
needs of work and family life, and ensure that people with disabilities and
minorities have full access to our country's employment opportunities,”
said Secretary Chao. “Today, one of the most important tasks our country
faces is ensuring that our men and women in uniform are fully integrated into
the civilian workforce when they return from their service to our
country.”
“I’m extremely pleased with the strategic partnership that
ESGR has established with the Department of Labor, and the support that it
provides to the 1.2 million National Guard and Reserve personnel and the
employers who support them,” said Hollingsworth.
Since September 11, 2001, more than 309,000 National Guard and Reserve
personnel have been mobilized for the war on terrorism. During Desert Storm,
some 250,000 were mobilized, generally for shorter active duty periods.
To date, some 150,000 guard members and reservists have returned to
their civilian jobs. To ensure a successful transition back into the workforce,
Secretary Chao directed a major compliance-assistance effort to increase
employer and employee awareness of the Uniformed Services Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, or USERRA, which tightened loopholes in the
previous laws. Among the proactive steps the Labor Department has taken to
increase awareness of USERRA are web casts, Internet advisories, articles in
print publications, and radio and television public service announcements.
In addition, Secretary Chao has addressed the major employer groups in
the country on USERRA rights, and the Department of Labor’s Veterans’
Employment and Training Services (VETS) office, which spearheads the
Department’s USERRA compliance-assistance efforts, has responded to more
than 18,000 requests for technical assistance, and briefed more than 105,000
service members and others on the law.
In addition to Mr. Hollingsworth, Secretary Chao was joined at
today’s ceremony by Maj. Gen. David F. Wherley, Commanding General of the
District of Columbia National Guard; and Frederico Juarbe Jr., Assistant
Secretary for Veterans Employment and Training.
# # #
_________________________________________________________________
| 
