THE 2017 AMENDMENT TO THE UNIFORMED SERVICES EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS: DID THE AMENDMENT REDUCE THE COMPLAINTS FILED BY MILITARY SERVICE PERSONS?

Steven Cates
Jason Jackson
Purdue University Global

ABSTRACT

This study uses data collected by the Department of Labor on “the number and types of
complaints” filed by service personnel against their employers for alleged violations of their
rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights (USERRA) passed in
2017. This study addresses the Amendments to USERRA passed in 2017 to determine if they have
had any impact on the type of and the number of complaints filed by military service persons
against potential violations committed by their employers. The findings of this study were derived
from the Chi-Squared and Friedman statistical tests. The Chi squared test, which was highly
significant, indicated that the distribution of the categorical variable (number of complaints) was
not the same (or homogeneous) over years. From the Friedman test and multiple mean
comparisons, the findings indicated that the number of complaints was lower for 2017 than for
past years. However, 2017 complaints were not significantly lower than those in the years (2012 –
2016).

Keywords: The 2017 Amendment act, uniformed services, complaints, military service persons, employment
and reemployment rights, US Department of Labor