Veterans' Job Rights Improved All veterans now have enhanced reemployment benefits due to a recent change in federal law. Collective bargaining agreements with provisions on this subject should reflect these new benefits. Collective bargaining agreements, state or local laws, or policies that are more beneficial to employees will take precedence over this law. It prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant because of past, present, or future application for, or membership in a uniformed service including the Coast Guard.
Some exceptions allow employees to accumulate longer periods of absence.
The old law generally limited absences to four years. The time limits for applying for reemployment are based on the time away from the employer. If the absence from the employer was less than 31 days, the individual must report to work at the beginning of the first full regularly scheduled working period on the first calendar day following completion of service plus an eight-hour travel period. If the period of service was for 31 days or more but less than 181 days, the individual must submit an application for reemployment within 14 days following completion of service. For service over 180 days, the individual must submit a reemployment application within 90 days of the completion of service.