Lies on the Civilian Side

My experience in the active Marines and the Army Reserves has been both fullfilling and rewarding. I never really expected to end up being a lifer but after so much time spent in the military I realized that is exactly what I had become; by the way did I mention that I still continue to serve?

I also had a great civilian job that allowed me to grow and add to the knowledge and experience that I had received in the military.

Things were good until I came back from my second mobilization and found out that my job was being switched around with that of another co-worker.

Now I know the law which states that I'm guaranteed a comparable position but not necessarily the same position. Being in the military I've been placed in this situation before but when it happens in the military, one is given a chance to question certain decisions. Of course you don't always get what you want but at least the procedure is on top of the table and pretty straightforward.

I enjoyed my previouse position and supervisor and that is never going to come back. The new position is not so bad but not as challenging and interesting as my previous one. All this is acceptable.

What I find hard to accept is in the manner in which I got thrown into it. I was tricked and lied to.  I was told to try the position temporarily and that I could have my old job back if I didn't like it. My new supervisor asked me to do it for him as a freind.

Well I tried it and decided that it wasn't for me and that I wanted my old job back.

That is when I was told that there was no turning back and he hinted that I could quit.

The thing is that he had every right under the law to change my work enviroment; he didn't have to be so deceitful.

I have too much invested in time, money and benefits to leave now, but the incident has left me annoyed, bitter, and distrustful of my new supervisor and the boss that put me in this situation.

Of course the same thing can happen in the military but at least there are steps for recourse that one can take without losing everything in the process.

(Submitted by William Martinez)

Comments

[Bob Wheeler]

I retired from the Navy Reserve after 26 years in December, 2005. There are no guarantees that you will get your old job back or have a job when your return from deployment. Remember these phrases: " while you were gone your job was resourced or your job was eliminated because of a reorg." Also,"there are no billets for you. You can drill in the VTU".

[Chris Morgan]

Welcome to the civilian world, were lies and deceit are all the norm in today's work enviroment. You were probrably doing a better job then your supervisor and he felt threatend that you might take his job. So what do you do ( the supervisor) you eliminate the competion, there fore you ( the supervisor) looks smart. You basicaaly surrond yourself with idiots to look smarter that you are. The good thing now is you will continue to rise up the corporate ladder to your highest level of incompitence ( Peter Principle) from there no one in senior manegemnt will want to accept the blame for their poor decisions. So they will know quietly hide your incompetant boss , or ask you to be his assistant so you can watch over that idiot to ensure that the job gets done correct.

[Dee Lee]

I had a similar situation happened to me. I left as a buyer and returned as a production assistant. The position that I recieved was pretty much entry level but I kept the same pay. Out of humiliation, I left the company instead of filing a complaint. It sounds like your supervisor violated your rights under USERRA act. I would suggest giving them a call or filing a complaint. Similar cases were filed and the military member recieved compensation. Sounds like your case has merit.