OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. – Donna Rogers, Director-elect of the Illinois State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management, signed an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Statement of Support for the National Guard and Reserve at the 11th Annual Human Resources Conference and Exposition here Aug. 2.

“I would like to thank Director-elect Rogers for signing this Statement of Support on behalf the membership of the Illinois State SHRM Council.” said Michael Ayers, Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee Chair. “By signing a Statement of Support, Illinois SHRM is publicly acknowledging the importance of service in the National Guard and Reserve to the defense of our nation here at home and around the world.”
In signing an ESGR Statement of Support Illinois SHRM joins with thousands of other employers and organizations across the country in pledging to:

•    Fully recognize, honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA).

•    Ensure managers and supervisors will have the tools they need to effectively manage those employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.

•    Recognize and support our country’s service members and their families in peace, in crises and in war. 

“The continuing support of groups like SHRM is critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the National Guard and Reserve,” said Ayers. “Without this type of support, our Guardsmen and Reservists would not be able to continue to serve in uniform.”
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a Department of Defense agency. Its mission is to gain and maintain the support of employers for service in the Reserve Components by increasing awareness of the law, recognizing outstanding support and helping to resolve conflicts through informal mediation.  Thousands of ESGR volunteers nationwide provide free education, consultation and, if needed, neutral mediation for employers of Guardsmen and Reservists. 

The Illinois State Council for the Society for Human Resource Management is dedicated to serving the needs of its chapters in Illinois to the National Society of SHRM. The Illinois SHRM Council promotes professionalism in human resources though its network of chapters around the state. It supports more than 9,400 human resources professionals in Illinois by providing timely and relevant information, ongoing professional development opportunities and intra-state communication on issues of interest in the field of human resources.
For more information about the Statement of Support signing or ESR please contact Lt. Col. Tim Franklin (see contact information above).

PHOTO CAPTION: Donna Rogers (center), Director-elect of the Illinois State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management, signs an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Statement of Support as Michael Ayers, Illinois ESGR Committee Chair, describes the significance of the ESGR Statement of Support program. Rogers signed the SoS during the 11th Annual Human Resources Conference and Exposition in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., Aug. 2.