Country Insurance - Getting It's Act Together

Posted By Blackfive

Back in November, I joined a growing boycott of Country Insurance over the termination of one of their employees for being called up as a Reservist and sent to Iraq. Some bloggers also joined the boycott and helped to spread the word.

Country Insurance quickly reinstated the employee - capitulating only about 24 hours after a radio station and an article in the Chicago Tribune raised the level of criticism.

Now, I just received a letter from Country Insurance that I will put in the extended section of the post. They are following the leads of companies that support their Guardsmen and Reservists like Sears and Boise Cascade and others.

To sum up: All Country Insurance employees that are Reservists/Guardsmen and are activated will be paid full pay for the first two weeks of their active duty tour, then Country Insurance will pay the difference between the Country Insurance salary and the military salary for the remainder of the active duty tour. The employees will also retain their benefits like health insurance and continue to accumulate vacation AND their military leave time counts towards retirement benefits.

That's good news. Really good news.

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COUNTRY Insurance & Financial Services has enhanced its military leave pay for employees on active U.S. military duty.

Employees continue to receive their full salary for the first two weeks. After that, full-time employees receive the difference between military pay and their normal COUNTRY salary throughout the duration of their active duty.

Prior to this change, employees collected their full salary for the first two weeks. Then, those with at least one year of employment received the difference between military pay and their normal company salary for up to a maximum of 26 weeks.

“We are extremely proud of our employees who serve in the military. This revision to our military leave pay helps eliminate concerns COUNTRY employees may have about the financial security of their families throughout the time they are serving their nation,” said Deanna Frautschi, senior vice president of Communications and Human Resources at COUNTRY.

The change, effective Nov. 19, 2003, applies to employees called to active duty in the future as well as employees currently on military leave. It is retroactive for those who were on military leave Nov. 19.

In addition to pay, group insurance benefits – medical, life and disability – remain intact. When employees return to work they receive all vacation, discretionary and personal holiday time, as if they were never gone. Also, time spent on military leave counts toward their retirement.

COUNTRY is examining all aspects of its military leave procedures for employees and agents, and is working with members of the Illinois and National committees for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to help develop an exemplary policy.

“COUNTRY has long maintained strong military leave benefits. But we want to do more,” said Frautschi. “Our revision in pay is just one step toward making our military leave procedures at COUNTRY some of the best among U.S. companies.”
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If anyone wants a copy of the original press release, email me and I will send it to you.

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Comments

Country Insurance - Getting It's Act Together

Back in November, I joined a growing boycott of Country Insurance over the termination of one of their employees for being called up as a Reservist and sent to Iraq. Some bloggers also joined the boycott and helped to spread the word.

Country Insurance quickly reinstated the employee - capitulating only about 24 hours after a radio station and an article in the Chicago Tribune raised the level of criticism.

Now, I just received a letter from Country Insurance that I will put in the extended section of the post. They are following the leads of companies that support their Guardsmen and Reservists like Sears and Boise Cascade and others.

To sum up: All Country Insurance employees that are Reservists/Guardsmen and are activated will be paid full pay for the first two weeks of their active duty tour, then Country Insurance will pay the difference between the Country Insurance salary and the military salary for the remainder of the active duty tour. The employees will also retain their benefits like health insurance and continue to accumulate vacation AND their military leave time counts towards retirement benefits.

That's good news. Really good news.

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