Military leave allows an employee to take time off for military duty or to seek reinstatement to their former job(s) when they return from military duty under protections provided by federal law. Eligibility requirements include:
- Employment with Oregon Public Universities, the State of Oregon, or the state's counties, municipalities or other political subdivisions for at least six months immediately preceding an application for military leave.
- Membership of the National Guard or of any reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.
- Employee must leave employment in a position, "other than a temporary position", for the purpose of military training, service or examination. This may include part-time, seasonal, and temporary employment when the work was to be continuous for an indefinite period or regularly recurs.
- Other leaves for military family members include: Call To Duty Leave and Service Member Family Leave. These leaves are to deal with a "qualifying exigency" that occurs when a family member is called to active duty service or to care for an injured veteran.
- Another type of military leave provides time off for military duty when an employee is a member of the organized militia of Oregon, or a member of an organized militia of another state, and is called into active service. This leave is not to comply with "reserve training obligations" rather a call to duty for an extended period. This leave is unpaid.
- Returning veterans are guaranteed reinstatement rights in most cases. A returning veteran cannot have served more than five years on active duty since leaving the job to which the veteran requests reinstatement.
To apply for Military Leave
Employees must provide verbal or written notice. If written notice is given, employees should complete the Personal Leave Without Pay Request form.
Other Requirements include:
- Notice must be in advance of the absence, except in instances involving "military necessity" or where the giving of notice is otherwise impossible or unreasonable.
- The request for Military Leave must be accompanied by the orders to the employee requesting that the employee report for duty.
Returning to Work
- Returning veterans and reservists must notify their former employers of their intention to resume their former jobs within 90 days of release from duty.
- A request for reinstatement must include a copy of official release from duty that includes the date of release.
- Reservists and guardsmen returning from training must only inform their employers of their training obligations and report back at the "next regularly" scheduled working period.
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