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Backgrounder
Employers Recognized for Supporting Canada's Reserve Force
BG-03.029 - May 8, 2003
Introduction
The 2003 biennial Employer Support Awards are the fifth such awards that the Canadian Forces Liaison Council has sponsored since 1994. The awards honour employers who have shown outstanding support for the primary reserve force. Primary reservists serve in the Canadian Forces on a part-time basis, and most of them either have civilian employment or are students.
Winners of the Employer Support Awards recognize the value of military training to their organizations. These employers recognize that being a member of the Reserve Force represents ongoing professional development. In supporting the reserves they have gone the "extra mile" in terms of their human resources policies governing time off for military service and/or their willingness to grant individual reservists time off and/or their recognition of military.
Award-winning employers recognize the value that these reservists bring to their civilian workplace through their military training and activities. As a result of their military training, reservists become more experienced, capable, and motivated employees. As well, military service prepares students for the civilian workplace.
Supportive employers also recognize that reservists make a valuable contribution to the Canadian Forces and to their fellow Canadians. Below is a list of this year's winners.
2003 Award Winners
National Award for Most Supportive Employer in Canada: Canadian Pacific Railway, Calgary AB. Nominated by Master Seaman Julie McDonald, HMCS Tecumseh, Calgary
Support to Canadian Forces Operations: Northrop Grumman Canada Corporation, Toronto, ON. Nominated by Sergeant James Somerville, 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Borden
Special Award for Support to the Reserve Force: The Catholic Diocese of Edmonton, AB. Nominated by Lieutenant-Commander Len Cadieux, HMCS Nonsuch, Edmonton
Most Supportive Employer in British Columbia: Victoria Police Department, Victoria, B.C. Nominated by Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Preston, HMCS Malahat, Victoria
Most Supportive Employer in Alberta: Shell Canada Limited, Calgary, AB. Nominated by Lieutenant-Commander Nancy Olmstead, HMCS Tecumseh, Calgary
Most Supportive Employer in Saskatchewan: Canada Safeway, Saskatoon, SK. Nominated by Corporal Craig McKay, 737 (Saskatoon) Communication Squadron
Most Supportive Employer in Manitoba: The Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, MB. Nominated by Leading Seaman Bradley Froggatt, HMCS Queen, Regina, SK (Formerly a member of HMCS Chippawa, Winnipeg, MB)
Most Supportive Employer in Ontario: Toronto Police Services, Toronto, ON. Nominated by Captain Stewart Kellock, 25 Service Battalion, Toronto
Most Supportive Employer in Quebec: Friperie de L'Est, Rimouski, QC. Nominated by Ordinary Seaman Éric Théberge, HMCS D'Iberville, Rimouski
Most Supportive Employer in New Brunswick: Dynex Manufacturing Limited, Fredericton, NB. Nominated by Corporal Heather Scaling, 31 (Saint John) Service Battalion
Most Supportive Employer in Nova Scotia: Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS. Nominated by Lieutenant-Colonel Terrance Weatherbee, Princess Louise Fusiliers, Halifax
Most Supportive Employer in Prince Edward Island: Georgetown Youth Center, Georgetown, PEI. Nominated by Captain Shawn Arbing, Prince Edward Island Regiment, Charlottetown
Most Supportive Employer in Newfoundland: The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, St. John's, NL. Nominated by Major Alex Brennan, 1st Battalion, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, St. John's
Selecting award winners
Reservists themselves nominate their employers in appreciation of the support they receive. A subcommittee of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council selects the winners. This year's categories consist of awards for most supportive employer in each province, a Support to Canadian Forces Operations Award, a Special Award for Support to the Reserve Force and a national award for most supportive employer in Canada. The selection committee considered the organization's existing policies for military support, as well as the actual support given to reservists.
The value of supporting the Reserve Force
Primary reservists acquire specific management skills that are useful to all employers - for instance, leadership skills, time and personnel management, communication skills, and the ability to think quickly and make decisions under stressful conditions. The military also encourages the development of values such as integrity, self-discipline, teamwork, and loyalty. Reservists undergo trade and occupational training that is transferable to their civilian workplace and, in many cases, may be equivalent to their civilian trade. This includes first-aid training, instructional techniques, and firefighting skills, or training in careers such as clerical worker, vehicle mechanic, airframe technician, financial manager, and many others.
How employers support the Reserve Force
Military training is ongoing professional development that civilian employers can put to use simply by supporting the reserve force. Essentially, this involves voluntarily granting reservists time off without penalty, or requiring them to use annual vacation time so that they can keep up with their military activities. Most supportive employers grant two weeks of annual leave, subject to the operating requirements of the organization. Many of them "top up" the salary with the difference that may exist between military and civilian pay. Moreover, many employers grant extra time off for further courses, and often employers are willing to consider granting up to 12 months' leave without pay so reservists can participate in longer-term activities such as United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Since 1992, the number of supportive employers has grown from a mere 16 to approximately 3600. Employers continue to respond enthusiastically to the appeal for support. The awards celebrate the outstanding support received from civilian organizations.
About the Reserve Force
The Primary Reserve is a subcomponent of the Reserve Force. Primary reservists are members of the Canadian Forces who usually serve on a part-time basis and are paid for their services. They are divided into five elements: the army reserve (historically known as the militia), the naval reserve, the air reserve, the communication reserve, and the health services reserve. Reserve Force units are located in hundreds of communities across Canada, with a total strength of about 23,000 personnel. It is estimated that up to 55 percent of them work either full or part-time in civilian employment. About 28 percent of them are students.
Currently 412 primary reserve personnel are serving on peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. In the past, up to 40 per cent of all peacekeepers have been reservists. In addition, 290 naval reservists are serving on 10 costal defence vessels.
Other subcomponents of the Reserve Force include the supplementary reserve (non-active reservists), the Cadet Instructor Cadre (officers who lead the Canadian Cadet movement), and the Canadian Rangers, who serve in remote locations of Canada.
Reservists' training activities
Primary reservists usually train on evenings and weekends. However, most of them need two weeks of full-time service every year to keep their qualifications current. From time to time, they also need to attend courses to progress in rank, and on occasion some reservists may volunteer to serve on operational missions.
Internationally, reservists have served on peacekeeping missions in the Middle East, Cyprus, Bosnia, Haiti, and Africa. At home, they have responded to shorter-term domestic emergencies such as the floods in Quebec and Manitoba, the forest fires in western Canada, the aftermath of the 1998 ice storm in eastern Canada, and the crash of Swissair Flight 111. By working side by side with their full-time Regular Force counterparts, they provide much needed augmentation of resources at a reduced cost.
Job protection measures
Every country with a Reserve Force has to consider how it will accommodate their reservists' civilian jobs. The determination is made considering the size, composition, type of use and frequency of use of the Reserve Force as well as the legislative division of powers relating to employment laws and standards in each country. Each country's approach is unique and has its own advantages and challenges.
For Canada, the voluntary approach has worked well and Canada has not experienced a shortage of reservists for operations. Canadian employers have answered the call, allowing the needed reservists time-off to assist when needed. To enhance the current program Bill C-17, currently before Parliament, has provisions to ensure that reservists called-up on mandatory duty (for certain defined emergencies) will have their civilian employment protected. For non-emergency, voluntary duty, employer support will remain voluntary.
The Canadian Forces Liaison Council
The Canadian Forces Liaison Council is a group of civilian business people who volunteer their time and efforts to promote the primary Reserve Force - Canada's part-time military - and the value of Reserve Force training in the civilian workplace.
The council is chaired by John Craig Eaton, chairman of the board of Eaton's of Canada Inc. There is a national vice-chair as well as a provincial chair in each province. Within most provinces, provincial committees have been established to further the work of the council. 2003 marks the 10-year anniversary of this organization and 25 years since the establishment of a formal employer support program in Canada.
The council encourages civilian employers to grant time off without penalty to reservists to allow them to keep up with their military activities. Recently, they also began encouraging educational institutions to accommodate students who are asked to undertake military activities.
Further information on the council and its initiatives as well as the list of past awards winners can be found at http://www.cflc.forces.gc.ca/intro_e.asp.
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