In the weeks and days to come, many students, faculty and staff could be called to military action.
Saint Louis University’s division of human resources is aware of about 20 employees that are in the Reserves or National Guard.
Human resources believes that there are a number of employees that could be called to active duty in the near future. As the war on Iraq begins, a number of faculty and staff have alerted their managers that there is the possibility they will be called to serve their country, said Assistant Director of Human Resources Bob Chism and Employee Relations Manager Robin Rodriguez.
There is only one employee that has been called to active duty thus far. The individual was called to service in early February. The only way of knowing when an employee is called is when the individual gives their supervisor human resources written notice in advance of military service unless the military necessity prevents the advanced notice.
Federal law requires organizations to give residents time off to serve and requires employers to give returning personnel their jobs back, but employers are not required to pay employees while they are in service.
The federal law on military duty covers all employers making it illegal to discriminate in the workplace based on a person’s military service. To be rehired, an employee must have left the job for active duty or training and cannot be absent for more then five years. Returning employees with 31 to 180 days of active service are protected from firing without cause for six months; employees with more then 180 days of active service are protected for one year.
It is SLU’s policy to honor and respect the rights and obligations of its employees to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States. The University will allow excused absence for all employees to serve in that capacity, in accordance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Act of 1974.
Leaves of absence and re-employment rights are provided by SLU based on these laws.
The University will pay employees up to 10 workdays of paid military leave for active duties in a 12-month period. Employees are not required to use accrued vacation time during absences due to service, but may do so upon request. During any period of paid leave, the University will continue contributions towards the costs of benefits. When military service is unpaid, the employee will be responsible for paying the costs of benefits. The employee will be eligible for any general increases in pay, or any other approved benefits that occur during their absence.
University health care benefits can be continued at the employees’ will.
However, Washington University has decided to pay employees called to active duty the difference between their military pay and their university pay for up to six months. Employees also have the option of using their accrued vacation time during military service. The university’s policy to provide tuition assistance for spouses and dependents will also continue during an employee’s military leave.
Students enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program will not be called to active duty unless a draft is reinstated. All ROTC cadets are students and will continue their curriculum. Even though they are learning military strategies and techniques, they are not considered to be of active duty until they are commissioned, upon graduation.
