HERSHEY, Pa. – Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (PA-ESGR), an office of the Department of Defense, announced that the Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA) recently signed a Statement of Support confirming their support of employees serving in the Guard and Reserve.  

James Astor, Pennsylvania South Central Area Chair accepted the Statement of Support from Bob Housel, PACA’s Board of Directors Chair.  The statement was obtained from Housel at the association’s annual meeting.  PACA partnered with the PA-ESGR to facilitate presentation of a Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment (USERRA) briefing to their 100+ member companies and organizations attending the conference.  Astor and Housel requested each organization sign, and display, a Statement of Support indicating their commitment to USERRA and support of our service men and women in the National Guard and Reserve forces.

The Statement of Support confirms that PACA companies join other employers in pledging:

• We fully recognize, honor, and comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA).
• We will provide our managers and supervisors with the tools they need to effectively manage employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.
• We appreciate the values, leadership and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists and Veterans.
• We will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families, in peace, in crises and in war.

“Today, supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units,” said Astor.  “I am asking all South Central Pennsylvania employers to take a look at their current human resources policies to incorporate policies supportive of Guard and Reserve employees.”  Many Pennsylvania employers provide support above and beyond their legal requirements by law by offering pay-differential to offset the loss of wages, and extension of health care benefits, which complement coverage provided by the military, when their employees mobilize.”

PACA joins a cadre of Fortune 500 companies, state and federal, agencies and thousands of America’s employers in demonstrating support for our armed forces.  Astor added: “By signing the Statement of Support, PACA is sending a clear message to its employees that while they are serving their country, they do not have to worry about their civilian jobs.”

ESGR, a Department of Defense office, seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States. ESGR facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by developing and advocating mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members, and acting as the employers’ principal advocate within DoD. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce. 

For more information about ESGR Outreach Programs, or ESGR volunteer opportunities, please call 1-800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil

Photo (L-R): PA-ESGR South Central Area Chair Jim Astor and PACA’s Board of Directors Chair Bob Housel