Louisiana § RS 23:1017.3 - Reemployment

§ RS 23:1017.3. Reemployment

            A. Any person called to duty by or pursuant to an operations plan of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness¹ shall, upon his release from duty or recovery from disease or injury resulting from such activities, be reinstated in or restored to the same or comparable position of employment. Such position or a comparable position will be at no less compensation, seniority, status or benefits than that he was receiving at the time of the call to duty. However, if the person is not qualified or capable of performing the essential functions of the same position by reason of disability sustained during his call of duty, but is otherwise qualified by reason of education, training, or experience to perform another vacant position in the employ of the employer, the employer shall employ such person in that other or comparable vacant position, the essential functions of which he is physically capable and qualified to perform that will provide like seniority, status, benefits and compensation provided the employment does not pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of the individual or others that cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation. This Section shall not apply to a temporary position held at the time of the call to duty.

            B. Each person released from duty shall report to his place of employment within seventy-two hours after his release from duty or recovery from disease or injury resulting from his activities. Failure to report within said seventy-two hours shall be considered a voluntary resignation from employment with the employer, and the provisions of this Section shall not be applicable.

            C. Any person who is restored to a position in accordance with the provisions of this Section shall be so restored in such manner as to give him such status in his employment as he would have enjoyed if he had continued in such employment continuously from the time of his call to duty to the time of his restoration to such employment.

            D. If any employer fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of this Section Louisiana Works or the director of the Department of Civil Service shall render aid and assistance in the reinstatement of persons to their positions in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

            E. It shall not be a violation of this Section if the employer's circumstances have so changed as to make such reemployment impossible or unreasonable or such employment would impose an undue hardship on the employer or the returning employee refuses the employment position offered.

            Acts 2004, No. 316, §2, eff. June 18, 2004; Acts 2006, 1^st Ex. Sess., No. 35, §8, eff. March 1, 2006; Acts 2008, No. 743, §7, eff. July 1, 2008.

¹See Acts 2006, 1^st Ex. Sess., No. 35, §8, which changes the term "office of homeland security and emergency preparedness" to "Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness" and §10, which provides for the termination of the Act and the reversion to the law in effect prior to the Act on July 1, 2010.