Of all the states where I would not expect this to happen...an Alabama Police Department cheats a member of its department and violates federal law by refusing to rehire her when she returns from National Guard duty. Being the good Right-To-Work state that we are, there is almost no protection for workers in Alabama except if you are on jury duty or serving in the National Guard. And somehow Marion managed to screw up one of those by mistreating a dispatcher when she came back from National Guard Basic Training. Shame on them.
And Marion is home of a famed Military Academy. Certainly this town should be showing more respect to this woman.
ReplyDeleteMost folks know that in Alabama, "Right to Work" means "we can fire you because your eyes are brown," - LITERALLY!
ReplyDeleteIn Alabama, an employer doesn't need a reason to fire an employee! They can fire 'em 'cause they're wearing plaid, or have curly hair, or wear Reeboks, or some other inane "reason."
Alabama's employment laws are so weak, they're practically non-existent. Practically... (not literally.)
Everybody hates lawyers... until they need one!
I hope she sues the pants off the city, the Police Department, the PD Chief, and every other person that such a widely cast net brings in.
And think of it... bad, mean ol' President Clinton signed that law!
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
USERRA - Summary of the Law
USERRA: The Law
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA, 38 U.S.C. § 4301 – 4335) is a federal law intended to ensure that persons who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard or other “uniformed services:” (1) are not disadvantaged in their civilian careers because of their service; (2) are promptly reemployed in their civilian jobs upon their return from duty; and (3) are not discriminated against in employment based on past, present, or future military service. The federal government is to be a “model employer” under USERRA (38 U.S.C. § 4301).
Ombudsman Services
1-800-336-4590, opt 1
USERRA@osd.mil
ATTN: Ombudsman Services,
1555 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22209
U.S. Department of Labor, USERRA Advisor