The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

The men and women who commit to the armed forces of the United States provide an invaluable service to us all. They take on a job that few are willing or able to do and accept wages for their work that often lag far behind what they might be paid in the private sector. In many instances, the nature of military obligations requires a worker to prematurely leave another position so that those duties can be adequately managed.

To protect those individuals from discriminatory employment practices, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) was written into law in 1994. There are stiff penalties and consequences for violating the provisions that it contains, so it is important for you to consult with an experienced attorney to ensure compliance. Contact the Des Moines business lawyers of LaMarca & Landry, P.C., at 877-327-2600.

Three Key Points

As with most legislation, the language contained within the actual law can be quite confusing and rather vague. This makes it difficult for a layperson to interpret the intent and meaning of the law and it creates a lot of grey area surrounding the enforcement of provisions and what constitutes compliance. At its essence, there are three main goals of the USERRA (USERRA, 38 U.S.C. § 4301-4335), that aim to ensure that service members or veterans:

• Are not adversely affected in civilian careers by their military service
• Gain swift reemployment in previous positions after returning from deployment
• Are not discriminated against for having participated in military service or possible future commitments required by such service

Contact Us

It can be very costly to be found in violation of the USERRA, and it bears an additional risk of negative public opinion. Do not take unnecessary chances. Contact the Des Moines business lawyers of LaMarca & Landry, P.C., at 877-327-2600.