Interchange August 2021
For one’s country
Vol. 49, Iss. 8
WYDOT supervisors around the state have won this prestigious award in support of our Troops
ESGR works to promote cooperation between service members and civilian employers By Jordan Achs Supporting our Troops involves more than words of thanks; it’s important for businesses to actively support them while they navigate their lives as service members and as civilian workers. The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense program that works to promote cooperation and understanding between Guard and Reserve service members and their civilian employers. This includes assisting with resolving potential conflicts that arise from an employee’s military
commitment and helping employers and service members navigate the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994. One way ESGR highlights employers who work exceptionally well with service members is the My Boss is a Patriot award, also called the Patriot Award. An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or the spouse of an employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, can nominate an individual boss or supervisor for support given directly to that service member and/or their family. This
can include flexible scheduling, time off prior to or after deployment or granting leaves of absence if needed. WYDOT supervisors around the state have won that award a whopping 25 times since 2009. With so many Patriot Awards year after year, in 2014 the ESGR state committee decided to award WYDOT with the Above and Beyond Award. This award highlights employers who have gone beyond the legal requirements outlined in the USERRA by providing benefits such as differential or full pay to offset lost For one’s country continued on page 3
