Washington and federal law establish certain rights and responsibilities uniformed service members and their civilian employers. The law provides that it is illegal to deny employment, reemployment, or any benefit of employment to military service members because of their military association and obligations. Individuals who voluntarily or involuntarily vacate employment in order to serve state active duty are eligible to be reemployed provided that:

• The employer has not experienced a change in circumstances that has made reemployment impossible or unreasonable;
• Reemployment does not impose an undue hardship on the employer; or
• The prior employment was not temporary.

Washington law also outlaws harassment in the form of jokes about service members, name calling based on military status or disability, continuous and negative comments related to the person’s service or disability, or frequent voicing of stereotypes related to military status. In order to constitute harassment, the behavior must be severe or pervasive, and must impact the terms and conditions of employment.

Employers should not make assumptions about persons in the military or stereotype persons in the military. If you or someone you love has suffered from discrimination or harassment on the basis of their military service, SGB is here to help. There is no charge for us to review your potential claim. Employment cases are either accepted on contingency or billed hourly. We discuss our fees upfront with our clients. Contact us today or fill out our intake questionnaire.