The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston:Employees called to Active Military Duty Rights and Responsibilities.

Any regular employee of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC-H) who voluntarily enlists in one of the branches of the armed forces and is called to serve or who is a member of one of the reserve branches of the armed forces, state military forces, or the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service who is called to active duty will be supported by this institution through the application of our military leave policies. (Handbook of Operating Procedures policies 2.39E and 2.40A).

These policies comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA). The following is a summary of the rights and responsibilities under these policies:

Definition of Military Leave- A military leave of absence is granted to any employee called to active duty during an emergency with the state military forces, any of the reserve components of the armed forces, call to National Guard active duty by the Governor, or the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service . The maximum time for which an employee may receive pay for this leave is 15 working days in a federal fiscal year (October 1 – September 30). If an employee’s active duty extends beyond the 15-day period, the employee will be placed on an unpaid, extended military leave.

Responsibility of Reservists: Reservists called to active duty should present to their supervisors copies of their military orders as soon as they are available, unless giving notice is precluded by military necessity or otherwise impossible or unreasonable.

Payment During Military Leave: The reservist is paid for the first 15 working days of leave for the fiscal year. At the end of the first 15 working days, the reservist is placed on an unpaid leave of absence. Effective September 1, 2003, differential pay will be provided to those employees who are called to active duty, if gross military pay is less that state gross pay. The combination of the differential and military pay cannot exceed the employee's annual state gross pay.