Posted on Dec 3, 2013
The citizen soldier's dual capacity. Two bosses to please.
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As much as the National Guard and Reserves have been serving they have been put in chaotic employment situations. Some employers are hostile to their employees but mask it by terminating for other reasons. I have had to leave a job due to this. This make membership in the NG or Reserves extremely difficult especially when you support a family. I have had one employer terminate me; not realizing it was illegal. After some assistance from the ESGR the situation was corrected. You could imagine what it is going to be like when I return there.
Many of us being in the National Guard or the Reserved how do you deal with this? Is this something that you have thought about before joining the Guard or Reserves? Have you had issues with this? Did you leave the military all together due to this? I can say that our retention in the Guard suffers for this reason. I have seen some awesome soldiers leave the Guard due to how it limits their potential in the civilian work force.
Many of us being in the National Guard or the Reserved how do you deal with this? Is this something that you have thought about before joining the Guard or Reserves? Have you had issues with this? Did you leave the military all together due to this? I can say that our retention in the Guard suffers for this reason. I have seen some awesome soldiers leave the Guard due to how it limits their potential in the civilian work force.
Reserves
Discrimination
ESGR
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 12
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I worked for a smaller company for several years before I enlisted in the Guard at 25. While they technically complied, and told me, "We support the military 100%" the way I was treated changed. It was mostly subtle, but it came to a head when I went to WLC. I told my supervisor about it, giving him a few weeks notice, but somehow the paperwork "got lost," so they didn't know that I was leaving, and I wasn't giving them proper notice. Anyway, when I left for deployment, I quit. It just wasn't worth the headache anymore.
On the one hand I did feel quite frustrated about the situation, but I do have to sympathize with them, as I was one of 3 service techs covering a large territory, and they were up a creek when I was gone, and the other two guys had to put in a lot overtime to cover for me.
I'm going to be looking for work in earnest in January, and I plan to either try to become self employed, work for a government agency, or work for a large enough company that they can cover for me without stressing other employees.
On the one hand I did feel quite frustrated about the situation, but I do have to sympathize with them, as I was one of 3 service techs covering a large territory, and they were up a creek when I was gone, and the other two guys had to put in a lot overtime to cover for me.
I'm going to be looking for work in earnest in January, and I plan to either try to become self employed, work for a government agency, or work for a large enough company that they can cover for me without stressing other employees.
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I completely agree. Smaller companies really can't support the soldier leaving for long durations.
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Competition for jobs in the private market is ever increasing, while requirements for Reserve Soldiers are also increasing. Many companies simply cannot operate with an employee that leaves for unknown amounts of time sporadically throughout the year, so put yourself in their shoes. Though legally you have employment rights, just imagine having to deal with a random schedule.
I worked as an Assistant Manager for a Target and it was difficult to even go to drill. Sure, they had to work around my schedule, but that just means a fellow assistant manager has to pick up my shift. And since we are salaried, they wouldn't get paid anymore, so they were not too happy with it.
If you could get an AGR job, that would be great, as long as you can be mobile and be reassigned every few years.
I worked as an Assistant Manager for a Target and it was difficult to even go to drill. Sure, they had to work around my schedule, but that just means a fellow assistant manager has to pick up my shift. And since we are salaried, they wouldn't get paid anymore, so they were not too happy with it.
If you could get an AGR job, that would be great, as long as you can be mobile and be reassigned every few years.
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I had the same issue. I worked at walmart and had the same issue. I have not been at my civilian job for over a year now and will be away for another year. I was in several schools and now I'm deploying. I don't think I will be welcomed back with open arms.
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