Yesterday, the DOL released an “interim final rule” that contains sample text for the notice required under USERRA. You can access the notice here. The notice was required to be posted beginning March 10, 2005. All employers, regardless of size, are required to comply. Read more about it here from Faegre.com: “Department of Labor Publishes USERRA Notice Just Before the Deadline.”
As many of you may recall, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act signed into law late last year amended USERRA to require that eligible employees who are called to military service be allowed to continue health coverage for themselves and for their covered dependents under the employer’s plans, at the employee’s expense, for a period of up to 24 months. In the past, the requirement was limited to 18 months, which corresponded to the COBRA continuation period. The new notice issued by the DOL contains language which complies with the new new 24-month requirement.