Jobless returning troops blame government

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Strained by extended tours in Iraq, growing numbers of military reservists say the government is providing little help to soldiers who are denied their old jobs when they return home, Defense Department data shows.

The Pentagon survey of reservists in 2005-2006, obtained by The Associated Press, details increasing discontent among returning troops in protecting their legal rights after taking leave from work to fight for their country.

It found that 44 percent of the reservists polled said they were dissatisfied with how the Labor Department handled their complaint of employment discrimination based on their military status, up from 27 percent from 2004.

Nearly one-third, or 29 percent, said they had difficulty getting the information they needed from government agencies charged with protecting their rights, while 77 percent reported they didn't even bother trying to get assistance in part because they didn't think it would make a difference.

Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/08/news/economy/bc.apfn.vets.returningto.ap/?postversion=2007110808

But the Grand Ol' Perverts "Support the troops!"

:puke:

Bring them home and get them back to work!!!!

get back their lives and livelihood after they've fought for their corporate masters.

I thought employers HAD TO preserve the jobs of active duty military.

Is this something that was, once? Did this end under *?

But without proper enforcement a law doesn't mean a whole lot.

Jay

and morphing, as companies merge and buy each other.
There's very little left of union workplaces and in high tech, things change so quickly, the exact job a soldier left, may no longer exist.

The law is probably written so that the "have to hire them back" clause can be interpreted many ways...and remember..lots of these returning soldiers are young, and may not have HAD jobs to return to.. Joblessness is what drives many people TO the military in the first place. They hope to get training that will FIND them that good job ..on the outside..

If you spent your entire military career, shooting people and being shot at, you are not all that qualified for many jobs..except maybe gangster, or Blackwater mercenary:shrug:

They may have to keep a job open but it should not have to be the same one the employee left because someone else likely ends up doing it in the meantime.

When a soldier returns, the employer only has to give him a job..(they can just tell him that "his" particular job no longer exists, but here's one just as good)..the kicker is that with a "new" position, there's probably a probation time attached, and they can then "let him go" if the can't master it..or if his emotional/health needs prevent him from mastering it.

Leaving a regular job for years, and then returning to new bosses, new rules, new co-workers is a stressful transition..

These returnees have many problems they did not have before.. they often return to marital problems, financial problems, PTSD, and physical issues too.. Many cannot DO their prior jobs..and never will be able to.