Former employee of Carneys Point firm lost job after military deployment
CAMDEN-- A member of the National Guard who said she was not offered a job after returning from a deployment has reached a settlement with the South Jersey firm where she used to work, the office of U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said in a statement.
Megan Toliver, 32, of New Castle, Del., joined the Army National Guard in 2004 and returned from a deployment with the rank of sergeant in May 2014. But when she sought her previous job as a mental health screener or an equivalent position, her employer, Healthcare Commons of Carney's Point, "willfully violated" a law preserving the employment of employees who leave work for military service, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
"Cases like this one not only provide financial relief to soldiers returning from overseas but also ensure that employers fully understand their employment obligations to servicemembers," Acting Associate Attorney General Stuart F. Delery said. "Through the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative, the Department of Justice will continue using every tool at our disposal to protect the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces from unjust actions and illegal burdens."
Under the settlement, Healthcare Commons will pay Toliver $18,500 in back pay and damages. The company will also adopt a policy informing employees of their rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act of 1994 and will also train managers in the law.
Paul Milo may be reached at . Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook
