Volunteer Reserve Forces/Fire Service

KGH recognises that many of the skills that reservists gain during their training are transferable. The Company will assist reservists as far as possible, for example by taking into account unusual leave requirements or the need to amend working patterns.

The reserve forces include the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve, Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force. This also includes retained Fire Fighters. So that Kew Green can support you as a reservist, please inform you Line Manager as soon as possible that you are, or intend to become, a reservist.

You should give your Line Manager details of your commanding officer so that they can communicate directly with Kew Green when required.

If you need time off for activities as a reservist, you are expected to use days out of your normal holiday entitlement. You should apply for holiday as soon as possible after you are informed that you need to take time off.

Each leave year, you will be given 5 days extra unpaid leave to help you meet your commitments to the reserve forces. You should make your request to your Line Manager in the same way as normal annual leave is requested.

In order to utilise the extra 5 days unpaid leave, you must provide evidence that you need to take time off for reservist activities (for example, a letter from your commanding officer) at the time when you are booking your leave. The unpaid leave days cannot be used for days when you are not undertaking reservist activities (for example, to recover from the physical demands of a weekend away with the reserve forces).

The Company will treat any instances of unauthorised leave as a serious disciplinary matter that could result in disciplinary action.

As a reservist, you may be called up for military operations, with notice typically given 28 days before mobilisation, which are likely to last up to 12 months.

On being called up, you should present your mobilisation papers, typically with a letter from the Ministry of Defence to the Company, outlining the date, and possible duration, of the mobilisation.

The Company can apply to delay or cancel mobilisation if it will seriously harm the business, this will only be sought in exceptional circumstances.

During your absence, you will not be paid by the Company. You will receive pay from the Ministry of Defence.

If you choose to continue your pension contributions whilst on military absence, the Ministry of Defence will pay the Company’s contribution.

After military service, you will be given a period of leave, where you will continue to be paid by the MOD. You will not accrue annual leave while on military service.

If you want to return to work before the end of your leave, you must get permission from either your commanding officer or the demobilisation centre. You should write to the Company as soon as you know when you can return to work. This must be no later than the third Monday after your last day of service.

You will return to the same type of job you were doing before you were mobilised, on the same terms and conditions. If this is not possible, you will be offered a suitable alternative role.

Time spent away from work doesn’t count towards continuous service but continuity of employment isn’t broken where you are re-engaged within 6 months of the end of your active service.