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Saint Michael’s inks statement of support for ESGR
Sitting from left to right, Rose Igitol, Derek T. Hocog (director of Operations) Francis S. Taimanao (director of Compliance), Sgt. Luis Deleon Guerrero (U.S. Army). Standing front, from left: BJ Cruz, Luis Pangelinan, Ben Tesiro, Branson Jay Santos, Froilan Wabol, Joseph Santos (president). Standing back, from left: Mike Concepcion, Chris Selepeo, Nathan Guerrero, Tony C. Guerrero (director of Business Development). (JAYSON CAMACHO)
The Saint Michael’s Emergency Medical Team has joined other private employers in the CNMI to express its support for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
Company officials and employees participated in a signing of a statement of support for the ESGR Thursday last week.
ESGR is a Department of Defense volunteer organization tasked to educate employers and service members about their rights and responsibilities, especially during times of deployment.
ESGR volunteer Rose Igitol told Saint Michael’s that the signing publicly shows that the company supports employees who are service members when they go on training, with the promise that they will have their jobs back when they return from deployment for at least up to 5 years.
Saint Michael’s president Joseph Santos said the military is very close to his heart, having been a former U.S Navy serviceman.
He said the reason he participated in ESGR is that he really supports its mission. “Because we have three service members in our company and I want them to know that our company supports the policy and that we will do everything and anything, and that when they come back from serving our country we’ll make sure they still have their jobs.”
One such employee, Terrence Tudela, said, “I feel great about it cause I’m in the Reserves and these guys are good people and the company is good and I know I’ll still have my job.”
ESGR, established in 1972, develops employer support for Guard and Reserve members. It advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increase of awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers. Paramount to ESGR’s mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian work force.
It serves as the bridge that links employers to understanding the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act or USERRA, the law that protects these rights and privileges of National Guard and Reserve employees as well as fosters “a culture of support” for the military.
