Department of Labor Issues USERRA Regulations

More than 11 years after the enactment of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (“USERRA” or the “Act”) and more than a year after issuing proposed regulations, the Department of Labor (DOL) has issued regulations to guide employers and employees in navigating the rocky terrain of rights and responsibilities under the Act — and not a moment too soon. According to the DOL’s press release, almost 530,000 National Guard members and Reservists have been called to active duty since September 11, 2001. Of that number, more than 390,000 of these individuals have completed their military service and returned to civilian status. The new regulations, which go into effect on January 18, 2006, explain how the Act protects these and other individuals, in “an easy-to-read, question-and-answer format.”