Greater protection
for military reservists
The Defence Reform Act 2014, which
includes provisions offering greater
protection to reservists, is now
in force. Previously when military
reservists were called up, they
were paid directly by the Ministry of
Defence (MoD). Employers could then
claim expenses of up to £110 per day
in respect of additional costs incurred
while replacing the reservist.
From 1 October 2014, both small and
medium employers will be able to receive
up to £500 per month for each full month
a reservist is absent from work, provided
they are on a full-time contract and work
at least 35 hours a week. The amount is
pro-rated for periods of less than a month
and where the reservist works less than
35 hours a week.
The financial incentive is on top of the
existing Employer’s Award, which covers
the cost of replacing reservists when
they are mobilised. This is to encourage
businesses to continue being supportive
employers, as it had previously been
indicated that the costs of employing a
reservist outweighed the benefits.
Furthermore, if an employee’s employment
is terminated after 1st October 2014
they will not need to have two years
employment to qualify for an unfair
dismissal claim, as long as the dismissal
is connected with the employee’s
membership of the Reserve Forces.
This is not to say that the claim will be
deemed to be automatically unfair but
it will be possible for such employees
to claim for unfair dismissal from the
first day of their employment. The new
legislation aims to give reservists greater
job security and financial assistance.
By Sarah Carr-Locke
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