Shift in paradigm: Australians PAY civilian employers when reservists deploy
“We have the big stick, and we have the carrot as well,” said Group Captain Wayne Knight to officers at the CIOR midwinter meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
The chief of staff for the Australian Defense Force Reserve and Employer Support Division told CIOR members that Australia has not prosecuted any employers for discriminating against reservists since 2001 since the country developed official policy and laws to protect service members. Group Captain Knight referred to these laws as “the big stick.”
But the “carrot” – so to speak – is a stipend paid to civilian employers when their citizen soldiers and airmen are called to deploy. Australia pays civilian employers $1,042 (Australian dollars) every week the employer’s reservist is deployed. The stipend increases for some critical care fields, going as high as $5,600 a week for some highly-skilled medical specialties.
“Since we implemented these changes, we have not had any employer complaints elevated to court,” said Group Captain Knight, who said communication and mediation resolves employer conflicts.
Australia also pays its reservists for duty, and their deployment salaries are not taxed.
“Our reservists are trained and fit,” he said. “When they come back from deployments, they are an even better value to their civilian employers. They have new management and technical skills valuable to their companies.”
Group Captain Knight added that Australia was excited to work with CIOR. “We have a lot to learn from each other,” he said, referring to CIOR and Australia. “We have common issues, opportunities and challenges, and regional interests.”