Handling Pension Plans for National Guard Members and Reservists

Increasing numbers of National Guard and Reserve personnel have been sent to far-flung places around the globe in recent years.
Reasons to Employ Reservists and Guard Members “Hire Vets First” is a campaign to increase awareness of the advantages of hiring veterans. Here are 10 reasons to support military employees, from the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve:
If your staff includes reservists and National Guard members who must interrupt their employment to fulfill their military service, you probably know that the law requires you to reinstate them once they returned from service (with certain specific exceptions). But you may not be aware of your obligations regarding pension benefits. For pension purposes, the Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) generally requires employers to treat returning service members as if they had been continuously employed — provided they meet the other qualifications. In other words, time spent away from the job while in military service does not constitute a break in employment. Here are some additional facts you should know:
An amendment to USERRA requires employers to inform their reservists or Guard member employees of their rights, benefits and obligations under the law. The requirement to provide this information can be met by placing a copy of the notice on a staff bulletin board, where information is normally posted. This notice can be downloaded by clicking here. reprinted with permission from Thomson Reuters 03.2021 |