Stand up for your Employment Rights

It is very important to know what rights you have as an employee, and sometimes you have to stand up for yourself. As a case in point, a school teacher in Tennessee was let go after he came back from serving two tours of duty in the military.

John Parker taught criminal justice and coached wrestling at Wilson Central High School in Tennessee. He served twice in Afghanistan with the Army Reserves, but when he came back the second time, he was soon informed that his contract was not being renewed. However, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 provides very specific protection to veterans. They may not be fired due to their service, and when they return they must be reinstated to their former position, along with accrued seniority. Basically, it protects the employment status of individuals who serve our country in the military.
Now there could have been legitimate (lawful) reasons for the non-renewal of Parker’s contract. The school’s budget might have been cut, or he may have had the least seniority of teachers, but comments made by Dr. Jim Duncan, the Director of Schools, suggest otherwise. According to the district, teaching should have been Parker’s priority, not protecting our country. “It was like we got these classes going and you’re supposed to be the teacher,” Duncan said. To say nothing of the director’s mastery of the English language (he’s in charge of teaching children, folks), Duncan clearly does not understand the protections the law affords our veterans. Regardless of your stance for or against the current military actions, veterans should in no way be subject to employment discrimination because of their service. Luckily, Parker has the law on his side, and is pursuing a lawsuit to reclaim his position.
Hopefully you will never find yourself in a position such as Parker, but if you do, know that there are laws designed to protect your status as a worker. Know your rights, and don’t hesitate to stand up for them.