Honor Supportive Employers

Senate Resolution No. 1577 BY: Senator AMEDORE COMMENDING Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) New York Committee upon the occasion of hosting its 2017 Awards Banquet, and paying tribute to this year's honorees WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend and support the purposeful cause of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) New York Committee, recognizing its long and sustained commitment to fostering 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; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) New York Committee upon the occasion of hosting its 2017 Awards Banquet, and paying tribute to this year's honorees; and WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion will be celebrated at the Committee's 2017 Awards Banquet on Friday, April 28, 2017, at the Radisson Hotel in Albany, New York; and WHEREAS, This year's honorees of the Pro Patria Award include Barclays, the Transportation Security Administration, and the MTA/NYC Transit Authority; this prestigious award is presented annually by each ESGR State Committee to one small, one large, and one public sector employer in their state or territory; and WHEREAS, Barclays, the Transportation Security Administration, and the MTA/NYC Transit Authority have demonstrated the greatest support to Guard and Reserve employees through their leadership and practices, including adopting personnel policies which make it easier for employees to participate in the National Guard and Reserve; and WHEREAS, This year's honorees of the Above and Beyond Award include the Albany County Sheriff's Office, Amtrak of the Capital Region, Verizon, BOCES, the Nassau County Police Department, and the Bank of America, as well as MDS HVAC-R; and WHEREAS, The Above and Beyond Award recognizes employers at the local level who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act by providing their Guard and Reserve employees additional, non-mandated benefits such as differential or full pay to offset lost wages, extended health benefits, and other similar benefits; and WHEREAS, The Guard and Reserve are essential to the strength of our Nation and the well-being of our communities; and WHEREAS, In the highest American tradition, the patriotic men and women of the Guard and Reserve serve voluntarily in an honorable and vital profession; they train to respond to their community and their country in time of need, and consequently, deserve the support of every segment of our society; and WHEREAS, The ESGR, a program of the Department of Defense, promotes cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers; and WHEREAS, For over 40 years, ESGR has fostered a culture in which employers recognize, honor and comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), provide its managers and supervisors with the tools that they need to effectively manage employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve; appreciate the values, leadership and unique skills service members bring to the workforce; encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists, and Veterans; and acknowledge the sacrifice made by our country's service members and their families, in peace, in crisis and in war; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is very pleased to have this opportunity to express its gratitude to those organizations which support the role of the Reserve and Guard in preserving our national security; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) New York Committee upon the occasion of hosting its 2017 Awards Banquet, and paying tribute to this year's honorees; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) New York Committee, and to the aforementioned honorees.