Benefits August 7, 2003

Study: Employers Lend Helping Hand to Soldiers

August 7, 2003 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Two-thirds of US employers who responded to a new survey are either covering the pay gap between civilian and military pay for reservists or providing full pay for a period of time, according to a new Buck Consultants survey.
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While the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act mandates various HR issues for reservists, many American organizations are going beyond their legal obligations, according to a Buck Consultants news release.

Survey results showed that 54% provide differential pay for reservists, in most cases for six months or a year, and another 12% provide full pay for a shorter period. Some 43% provide full medical benefits for a limited period of time, usually six months or a year, while 23% provide such benefits for the duration of the military leave.

Reservists are employed by 85% of the employers that replied to the In Times of War – Employers Respond: Operation Iraqi Freedom.Survey. Of the employers with reservists on their payrolls, 83% reported that some number of their reservist employees have been called for active duty in Iraq.

The second quarter 2003 study covered more than 400 organizations. “Corporate America is demonstrating both sensitivity and patriotism in its management of compensation and benefits policies for reservists,” said Larry Sher, Buck director of research, in a statement.

The survey is available at no cost by contacting Buck’s Benefit Survey Department, Buck Consultants, Inc., 500 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, New Jersey, 07096-1533, (201) 553-6400.

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