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Verizon Salutes Its Employees on Active Military Duty With Some of America's Best Corporate Leave Benefits

The company activated its Emergency Military Leave policy following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the policy remains effective. The policy applies both to employees called up for federal or state active military duty and those who voluntarily enlist.

Verizon's benefits greatly exceed the provisions of Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), which requires employers to give reservists time off for military service and to reinstate them with certain rights and status upon their return.

For up to 36 months of active duty, Verizon provides the difference between an employee's base pay and the military base pay. In addition, the company continues medical, dental, vision and group life insurance for employees and eligible dependents on the same terms as for active employees. Service and pension credit also continue for the entire Emergency Military Leave. Given the continued service of so many Verizon employees, this program was extended to provide an additional 36 months of program eligibility in September 2007.

Reinstatement rights upon return from Emergency Military Leave are determined by the length of time the employee was away. For 90 days or less, an employee generally will be reinstated to the same job, and those on leave for more than 90 days generally will be reinstated to a similar job if the same job is not available.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 1,000 Verizon employees have been called to active duty in the military and National Guard. Some have served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Others have played crucial roles here at home during the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. More than 90 employees are still on Emergency Military Leave.

Media contact: Alberto Canal, 908-559-6367