Reserves: What to tell your employer..

[Navy-Light]

So how did most of you tell your employer that you have signed up for the reserves and require 2 weeks off for training per year and could be mobilised for 6 months at any point. Did it go down well for you all?

I’m pretty nervous about it to be honest. Mostly fear of them wanting me to take my 2 weeks training as a “holiday”

Look forward to hearing from some of you!

 

[Branch-Hopper]

This could be the longest post in internet history, but I shall attempt to be brief,

In short, it depends on your employer. Most government departments give additional leave for reserve commitments, some larger private sector employers match this, or give one weeks additional unpaid leave to give more flexibility to the reservist. Few small employers can afford this. Assume you will have to use two weeks of your holiday entitlement for reserve activity until told otherwise. It's worse for the self-employed.

The MoD run something called The Armed Forces Covenant,. This encourages employers to support servicemen/women, particularly reservists. The MoD issue awards for the employers commitment: https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/support-and-advice/reservists/

As for mobilisation (only every five years unless all parties agree otherwise) the employer has to keep you job open for your return, The MoD help pay for the training of your relief and a heap of other things. I could explain but its after 2300 at night.

In essence a mobilised reservist has the same rights as a lady on maternity leave, give or take. However (and her is the rub) proving that you have been discriminated against, deliberately or otherwise, a by the civilian employer, or potential civilian employer at ,selection/interview, is very hard indeed.

Finally note that we are required to inform our civilian employers, via units, that we are reservists. So you can't hide it.

That's it in a nutshell, but it is a very long topic. Brexit is easier!

 

[Navy-Light]

Hi,

That’s cleared up all of the questions I had on reserves/employers. Thanks for the informative post!!

My employer is a small family run business. I say small, but there are at least 70+ staff members. Definitely a lot less than larger corporate private sector companies. I’ve never thought of it as looking at it like being similar to somebody going on maternity leave - that’s a great way of putting it and I will say this when I finally come to tell them. I didn’t know there was a convenant either, I will look in to this. My manager jokes “please do not get pregnant and go on mat leave” but I’ve never heard her say “please never be mobilised with the armed forces” so I shouldn’t have a problem, right?

Again, thanks for your help

 

[Navy-Light]

This could be the longest post in internet history, but I shall attempt to be brief,

In short, it depends on your employer. Most government departments give additional leave for reserve commitments, some larger private sector employers match this, or give one weeks additional unpaid leave to give more flexibility to the reservist. Few small employers can afford this. Assume you will have to use two weeks of your holiday entitlement for reserve activity until told otherwise. It's worse for the self-employed.

The MoD run something called The Armed Forces Covenant,. This encourages employers to support servicemen/women, particularly reservists. The MoD issue awards for the employers commitment: https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/support-and-advice/reservists/

As for mobilisation (only every five years unless all parties agree otherwise) the employer has to keep you job open for your return, The MoD help pay for the training of your relief and a heap of other things. I could explain but its after 2300 at night.

In essence a mobilised reservist has the same rights as a lady on maternity leave, give or take. However (and her is the rub) proving that you have been discriminated against, deliberately or otherwise, a by the civilian employer, or potential civilian employer at ,selection/interview, is very hard indeed.

Finally note that we are required to inform our civilian employers, via units, that we are reservists. So you can't hide it.

That's it in a nutshell, but it is a very long topic. Brexit is easier!

Hi,

That’s cleared up all of the questions I had on reserves/employers. Thanks for the informative post!!

My employer is a small family run business. I say small, but there are at least 70+ staff members. Definitely a lot less than larger corporate private sector companies. I’ve never thought of it as looking at it like being similar to somebody going on maternity leave - that’s a great way of putting it and I will say this when I finally come to tell them. I didn’t know there was a convenant either, I will look in to this. My manager jokes “please do not get pregnant and go on mat leave” but I’ve never heard her say “please never be mobilised with the armed forces” so I shouldn’t have a problem, right?

Again, thanks for your help