| Al
Glover works for the City Club of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
One day while serving lunch, he got a call that his National
Guard unit was being called up for service in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Glover left immediately - literally - and didn't return
to the club for more than a year.
General
Manager Doug Baker, CCM, held Glover's job for him, as required
by law, but went a step farther. He and the staff of the club
regularly sent e-mails, letters and gifts, including cases
of bottle water.
Baker,
Glover and other employees and employers gathered recently
for a press conference to remind businesses that it is required
of them to hold a job for any employee that is called up to
active duty. Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco spoke to the
group.
By
following the law - or as in the case of Doug Baker and the
City Club, going beyond it - the employers grant "peace
of mind for the soldiers and a sense of security for their
families". Governor Blanco continued by praising the
employers as "it is difficult to be without a valued
employee for an extended period of time."
Each
state has an agency to make sure employers know their duties
under the job protection laws for guardmen and reservists.
Information is available online at http://www.esgr.com.
Many
thanks to Doug Baker, for providing these images.
Portions
of this story reprinted with permission from the Baton
Rouge Advocate and editor John LaPlante.
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