DOD to Measure Guard and Reserve Employment Practices
March 02, 2011

The Department of Defense (DoD) will survey employers nationwide in March and April to gain insight into the benefits and challenges of employing members of the Guard and Reserve. The DoD National Survey of Employers is the department’s largest study of its kind since the United States entered sustained military operations nearly 10 years ago in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001.

“Guard and Reserve members often return from military service as more valuable employees, but their extended absences can sometimes burden their civilian employers,” said Dennis McCarthy, assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs. “Our goal for this survey is to identify best practices in supporting employers of Guard and Reserve members and evaluate the effectiveness of Department of Defense employer support programs.”

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a DoD agency, will send the survey to 80,000 employers this week. The employers who have all been randomly selected will receive a letter with instructions and have eight weeks to complete the survey.

More information on the survey can be found at http://www.esgr.org/employersurvey.