Deployment to Afghanistan

[Tonic_wine]

Hi all,

Quick question that I haven't mentioned to my DOM (Glasgow) yet, i'm a member of the TA Infantry and was looking to mobilise for deployment this november, for my third tour. My 6 month contract was automatically renewed a few days ago, but if I was to mobilise for a year my contract would need renewing whilst i'm away. Would they renew it? Royal Mail seems to bang on about supporting reservists but i've found getting the days off i need (which Courier keeps saying i'm entitled too) is a massive amount of hassle. I just need to know how likely it is i'll have a job to come back to.

Cheers

[TrueBlueTerrier]

can't see anything specific for FTC workers on the sabre site but it might be worth contacting SABRE and see if they can advise.

The rights for a returning reservist/TA http://www.sabre.mod.uk/Employers/The-M ... A0bs6P66So" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would strongly suggest informing Royal Mail about your TA obligations, to be honest you should have done that a lot earlier.

[Tonic_wine]

can't see anything specific for FTC workers on the sabre site but it might be worth contacting SABRE and see if they can advise.

The rights for a returning reservist/TA http://www.sabre.mod.uk/Employers/The-M ... A0bs6P66So" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would strongly suggest informing Royal Mail about your TA obligations, to be honest you should have done that a lot earlier.

They know about my obligations and that mate, just the tour itself I haven't mentioned, purely because i was waitin for the first 6 months of my contract to finish and didn't want to start making myself a hinderence. Seems to be a total grey area as far as I can see. Sabre are no use.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

can't see anything specific for FTC workers on the sabre site but it might be worth contacting SABRE and see if they can advise.

The rights for a returning reservist/TA http://www.sabre.mod.uk/Employers/The-M ... A0bs6P66So" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would strongly suggest informing Royal Mail about your TA obligations, to be honest you should have done that a lot earlier.

They know about my obligations and that mate, just the tour itself I haven't mentioned, purely because i was waitin for the first 6 months of my contract to finish and didn't want to start making myself a hinderence. Seems to be a total grey area as far as I can see. Sabre are no use.

Great that you have informed them then that probably makes it easier for you. As far as I can tell, then cannot treat you any differently just because you are or have been deployed. As long as you follow the rules on the Sabre site and apply for re-employment on return then they would have to have a strong reason not to re-instate you. As an example if there are 2 of you at the office on the same contract and they are still working there when you return, then they cannot use your deployment as the reason not to reinstate you as that would be unfair.

If SABRE aren't any good (mind you the resettlement service has always been worse than a chocolate fire-guard in my experience) then go to CAB and see if they can help.

In reality of course even a permanent employee is never "guaranteed" a job when they get back, but if the employer has not followed all the rules there are always avenues open to you to get your rights addressed. However, I can't see many employers even ones as big as Royal mail, taking a gamble with a potential bad news story of "X company treats Our Heroes with contempt"