How far in advance can I request a leave of absence from my civilian job as a reservist who is deploying?

SGT Jody Trapp — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 22:55:07 -0400

Response by MSG Pat Colby made Aug 2 at 2016 11:02 PM

MSG Pat Colby — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 23:02:27 -0400

Your Unit should be providing you with a Yearly Training Calendar that identifies Drill Dates, AT periods and projected deployment dates. You should immediately give that info to your Civilian Boss.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2016 11:09 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 23:09:10 -0400

ESGR is going to be your best resource for this kind of question. http://www.esgr.mil They have a link for each state with local contacts for you.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Home

With an ESGR committee in each state, territory, and the District of Columbia, there is an ESGR representative able to help you forge a stronger bond with your supervisor through a greater understanding of your military service.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2016 11:34 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 23:34:33 -0400

Depends on how much PTO you have, or how much leave without pay you want too take, or the policy your company has. Your orders start on a certain day, so usually that is when a leave of absence due to military duty begins. Visit the ESGR sure and follow their checklists and you will be ok.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Aug 3 at 2016 9:44 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 09:44:50 -0400

Keeping in mind that they are only obligated to grand time off for the actual period of the deployment (and allowable time on the tail end, which depends on the length of the deployment - don't remember the rules anymore), you can REQUEST at any time once you know the deployment dates. They are not obligated to grant before the orders are in hand.

On the one hand, they should (and I as an employer would) appreciate the earliest heads up so that they can start planning for your absence. On the other, they may start being crappy to you as soon as they know that you will be gone. You know your employer best.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Aug 3 at 2016 9:49 AM

CSM Thomas McGarry — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 09:49:36 -0400

Literally one day so long as your orders state that's when you start-Always smart to give your employer as much lead time as possible, though be sure you have orders as some employers have been known to fire employees who informed them they were being deployed but did not have orders yet, in this case I'm not sure you would be covered under ESGR laws.

Response by SGT Edward Wilcox made Aug 3 at 2016 11:17 AM

SGT Edward Wilcox — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 11:17:37 -0400

Any time off you need from your civilian job, to meet your obligations to the Reserves, should be requested as soon as you know dates. This includes giving them a copy of your yearly drill schedule as soon as it is issued by the Command. If you have dates, but no orders, give them a heads up. Let them know as soon as you know. Tell them you will provide orders as soon as you get them.

Most employers will support your reserve obligations, but you have to keep an open line of communication with them. Never blindside them with short notice.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 2:25 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 14:25:12 -0400

That would most likely depend on your employer since this is deployment. I have worked for 3 different employers that I was mobilized while working for them. One wanted me to work right up to the weekend before I left, one gave me all the time I needed and payed me the difference between my base pay and what I would have made if I was still working and one gave me all the time I needed but no extra pay. They did let me carry my insurance since my youngest was still at home and it was cheaper to keep it than pay what uncle sam wanted to put her on tricare.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 2:45 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 14:45:54 -0400

You will want to have orders in hand before making this known to your employer, or you risk losing USSERA protection.
The law requires you to inform your employer within a "reasonable" time frame so that they can take any necessary measures to prepare for you absence. That is undefined in the law, but for a deployment, 90 days is a reasonable amount of time in my view.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 4:03 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 16:03:33 -0400

As long as you have your orders in hand, it can be same day but out of respect for your employer, give them at least a 39 day notice. Upon return, try to give them a 90 notice. Also, while deployed, use Google voice to call your employer so you stay in good grace with them.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2016 4:09 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 16:09:47 -0400

I'm going through this now as well. I already told my employer as a heads-up and my unit doesn't mobilize for another 6 months. It is a hassle for me to take off though (I'm a teacher/coach and have to go through a whole leave request process to find a replacement) but they're working with me so far even though I don't have individual orders yet. My job doesn't start the leave until the day the orders start, so in the past I've had to take personal days in order to travel to the duty station. I think it depends on what kind of job you have and frankly how nice of a boss you have.