Tucson, Ariz. – Arizona Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, honored Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center with an Above and Beyond Award in recognition of extraordinary support of its employees who serve in the Arizona Guard and Reserve. Jim Childers, Chief Financial Officer and Peggy Foerster accepted the award on behalf of Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center at the ESGR annual Awards Banquet in Tucson April 25.
“The ESGR Above and Beyond Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize American employers like Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center for providing extraordinary patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation’s call to serve,” said Tim Williamson Arizona ESGR state chair.
“Supportive employers like Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units,” said Williamson.
Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center joins with thousands of American employers who have reviewed and amended their current human resources policies to ensure compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Many employers provide support far above and beyond that which is expected or required under USERRA with pay differential to offset the loss of wages, and extension of health care benefits which complement coverage provided by the military when their employees are mobilized.
U.S. Navy Reserve Lt. Cmdr. Michael Jerrigan nominated Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center for the award.
“My employer is a small community hospital, said Jerrigan. “Out of the six years employed with the hospital I have been deployed three times for over 24 months, and they have always shown full support throughout. I am currently deployed in Djibouti, Africa for 9 months as an Emergency/trauma nurse. This is a hardship for any hospital as they have to hire others to cover my absence.”