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• Rights and responsibilities
• Your employer's support
• Benefits to your employer
• Managing your employer
• Mobilisation
• Case studies
• FAQs

Managing your employer

Talking to your employer in good time about your commitments as a Reservist will enable them to plan ahead and reduce the chance of any problems or friction arising.

• Your responsibilities
• Explaining your training commitment
• Starting a new job
• Support available for you
• Helpful publications

Your responsibilities

It helps you gain your employer's trust and support if you know and understand your rights and responsibilities.

It is your responsibility to:

• tell your employer that you are a Reservist
• find out about your employer's policies towards the Volunteer Reserve Forces (VRF)
• ask for time off for training, giving plenty of notice
• let your employer know as soon as possible, if you have been informed of mobilisation
• give your employer accurate information

For more detail, see Your responsibilities.

Explaining your training commitment

If you ask for extra leave for training, it can put pressure on your employer. They may need to ask other members of the team to cover your work or even take on temporary staff. That is why it is important to talk to them about your training commitments as soon as you know what they are.

Your employer is under no obligation to give you any extra leave, paid or unpaid, to attend training. If you give your employer plenty of notice they can plan ahead and they are more likely to accept your request.

Starting a new job

If you are looking for a new job, it is important to let the employer know as early as possible that you are a Reservist or plan to join the VRF. Mention it at the interview or ask before you sign a contract.

Some employment contracts do not allow you to take additional part-time work, which is how membership of the VRF may be seen. It is always best to check before you sign anything. Of course this may need to be approached delicately, but an open approach at the beginning is the best way to stop problems arising later.

Support available for you

If you experience any problems with your employer as a result of your commitments as a Reservist, it is the responsibility of your Unit, through the chain of command, to support you. For that reason, all Units in the VRF have appointed a Unit Employer Support Officer (UESO) to act on behalf of the Commanding Officer in these matters. The UESO in your Unit should be able to offer you help and advice about how to maintain a good relationship with your employer.

Helpful publications

SaBRE and the Ministry of Defence have produced a range of publications designed to give employers practical information about employing Reservists and to help them recognise the benefits. Many of those publications can be downloaded and printed from the Publications page on this website.

You could also suggest to your employer that they visit this website, where they will find a section specifically designed for employers.

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