PDOL Issues Final USERRA Regulations

The Department of Labor issued final regulations interpreting the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) on December 19, 2005. The final regulations take effect on January 18, 2006. USERRA prohibits discrimination on the basis of service in the uniformed services, provides reemployment rights to employees who leave civilian employment to serve in the uniformed services, and provides employees with various other rights, benefits, and obligations in relation to service in the uniformed services.

Proposed regulations were published in September 2004, and final regulations had been expected by June 2005.  The regulations issued this week, which contain several changes from the proposed regulations, are the first final regulatory guidance developed on interpretation and application of USERRA, a law enacted in 1994. 

The Department of Labor also updated its USERRA rights poster for display in the workplace.The new regulations, as well as the updated USERRA poster, are available at www.dol.gov/vets.