It is your role as the Employer Support Officer to maintain communication with both Reservist and their employer during mobilisation, demobilisation and the return-to-work process. These are all key areas where your assistance will be in great demand.
Help in supporting Reservists
It is inevitable that the mobilisation of a Reservist employee may cause concerns to their employer, so the earlier the Reservist discusses the matter with them, the better. With the help of Monster, we’ve developed a factsheet to help Reservists discuss mobilisation with their employer which can help both you and them. This covers areas such as what they can do in advance to prepare for the meeting and how to anticipate and deal with likely employer concerns.
Demobilisation is another key time when you’ll need to provide a great deal of support. Because Reservists have to adhere to strict timelines in order to apply for reinstatement with their former employer, it’s vital that you remind them of the reinstatement process, and make sure that they have all the necessary information to hand.
Help in supporting employers
Both Reservists and their employers have the right to appeal for the mobilisation to be postponed or cancelled. As an Employer Support Officer you may get involved in applications for exemption, deferral or revocation. While any application or appeal is under way, the Reservist is still bound by law to continue to report for mobilisation and undergo any training, until a decision is reached.
It’s important that you keep in touch with the Reservist’s employer before and during their mobilisation.
- they should be aware of what their Reservist employee is doing, where they are serving, and how they can be contacted while they’re away;
- they need to understand the reinstatement process and their obligation to reinstate their Reservist employee ‘on no less favourable terms’ than before under the Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985;
- it would also be very helpful if you could encourage the Reservist and employer to keep in touch themselves, as this should help make the return to work that much smoother.
Help for you in supporting them
To help you answer many top-level queries, take a look at the mobilisation process from a Reservist’s point of view and the mobilisation process from the employers’ point of view. You can also download a variety of publications from our resource library.
The employer’s call-out pack provides information on what employers can expect when a Reservist employee is mobilised, their rights and responsibilities and how to apply for financial assistance.