Baton Rouge, Louisiana – The Louisiana Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today that Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Jimmy Field was honored with an “Above and Beyond” award in recognition of extraordinary support of its employees who serve in the Louisiana National Guard and Reserves.

According to Jack Humphries ESGR Louisiana Chair, “The ESGR ‘Above and Beyond’ Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize American Employers who provide extraordinary patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation’s call to serve.  Supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s National Guard and Reserve units.”

Louisiana Public Service Commission joins with thousands of American Employers who have reviewed and amended their current human resources policies to ensure compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Many employers provide “Above and Beyond” support with pay differential to offset the loss of wages, and extension of health care benefits which complement coverage provided by the military when their employees are mobilized.

(“The award should really go to my two employees, out of a total of six, who had their lives interrupted by an almost simultaneous military call up,” Field said)

The Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) is an independent regulatory agency dedicated to serving the public interest by assuring safe, reliable, and reasonably priced services for the public utilities and motor carriers.

The LPSC consists of five elected Commissioners who serve overlapping terms of six years and a staff of 122, created by Article IV, Section 21 of the 1921 Constitution of the State of Louisiana.  It succeeded the Railroad Commission of Louisiana that was created by the 1898 Constitution.

The overall goals of the Commission are to ensure a regulatory balance that enables utilities to provide customers with safe, adequate and reliable service, at rates that are just and reasonable, equitable and economically efficient, and that allow utilities an opportunity to earn a fair rate of return on their investment.
In addition, the Commission continues to take an active and cautious role in development of a competitive, market-based approach to utility regulation whenever such an approach is in the public interest.
As the 1.3 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions with America’s borders and beyond, ESGR will continue to be the resource for the employers of citizen warriors. ESGR recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of the law, and resolves conflict through mediation.  More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.esgr.mil, or by calling ESGR Program Support Specialist Frank Huff at (318) 290-5246.