Businesses Affirm Support of Reserve Component Employees

From an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve News Release

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 13, 2012 – Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency, announced that representatives from the Associated Builders and Contractors, Coca-Cola Refreshments, McDonald’s Corp., Safeway Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. have signed or will sign statements of support for their National Guard and reserve employees in honor of Veterans Day.

The statement of support is a pledge that demonstrates an employer’s commitment to uphold their legal responsibilities as a military employer, to value the characteristics and skills service members contribute to the workforce, and to identify opportunities to support Guardsmen, reservists, veterans and their families.
The following national organizations have held or will hold statement of support signing ceremonies with senior Defense Department officials during the weeks surrounding Veterans Day:

-- McDonald’s Corp.: Nov. 7, corporate offices, Oak Brook, Ill.
-- Coca-Cola Refreshments: Nov. 8, corporate offices, Atlanta.
-- Wal-Mart: Nov. 12, corporate offices, Bentonville, Ark.
-- Associated Builders and Contractors: Nov. 13, Austin Hilton Hotel, Texas.
-- Safeway Inc.: Nov. 15, corporate offices, Pleasanton, Calif.

In addition to the signing ceremony at its corporate office, Wal-Mart will also extend the statement of support signing initiative to 10 regional locations across the nation.
Signatories of the statement of support make the following pledges:
-- We fully recognize, honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act.

-- Our managers and supervisors will have the tools they need to effectively manage those employees who serve in the Guard and reserve.

-- We appreciate the values, leadership and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, reservists and veterans.

-- We will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families in peace, in crises and in war.

“Supportive employers have been absolutely critical to ensuring our Guard and reserve members have been ready to respond to the unprecedented national security demands of the last decade,” ESGR Executive Director Ronald G. Young said. “By signing these statements of support, these industry leaders are sending a powerful message that they value their military employees’ service to our nation and are firmly committed to supporting Guardsmen, reservists and veterans in times of peace and conflict. We are grateful for their support.”

Since Sept. 11, 2001, almost half of the more than two million Americans who have gone to war have been Guardsmen and reservists. As recently as Hurricane Sandy, men and women of the National Guard and reserve components were called from their civilian lives to work alongside first responders and participate in search and rescue missions. The support of America’s employers has provided these citizen warriors with stability, predictability and peace of mind.

ESGR was established in 1972 to develop and maintain employer support for Guard and reserve service. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging the employment of Guardsmen and reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.