Thousands
of businesses are unaware whether or not they employ a member of the Reserve
Forces.
Research
published today, for the MoD campaign SaBRE (Supporting Britain’s Reservists
and Employers), found that among 202 senior decision-makers in companies with a
turnover of more than £1m:
•
More than one in ten (11 per cent) of respondents did not know if they
currently employ a member of the Reserve Forces
•
42 per cent did not know that employers have a right of appeal if an employee
is mobilised for full-time military service
•
only 61 per cent knew that reservists have played a major role in the war in
Iraq
•
only 25 per cent knew that mobilisation can be compulsory
•
17 per cent wrongly believe that UK reservists cannot be posted overseas.
From
tomorrow, a new MoD scheme, called
‘Employer Notification’, comes into effect to help address these
problems.
Under
this scheme, reservists will have to provide the MoD with details of their
employers. The MoD will then write to the employers explaining their rights and
obligations.
Susan
Anderson, director of HR policy at the CBI welcomed the change.
"Businesses
can gain a great deal from employing members of the Reserve Forces," she
said, "but it is important they make contingency plans in case any
employees are mobilised.
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“Most
reservists already work with their employer to ensure this is possible, but the
‘Employer Notification’ scheme will make sure businesses have the full
picture.”
