20 CFR 1002.194 : Employees' Benefits (§ 1.1 To Parts 1011-1099) — (Part 657 To Parts 1011-1099) — Office Of The Assistant Secretary For Veterans' Employment And Training Service, Department Of Labor (Part 1000 To Parts 1011-1099) — Regulations Under The Uniformed Services Employment And Reemployment Rights Act Of 1994 (§ 1002.1 To Appendix To Part 1002) — Reemployment Rights And Benefits (§ 1002.180 To § 1002.267) — Reemployment Position (§ 1002.191 To § 1002.199) — Can the application of the escalator principle result in adverse consequences when the employee is reemployed?

4 Aug 2016

Yes. The Act does not prohibit lawful adverse job consequences that result from the employee's restoration on the seniority ladder. Depending on the circumstances, the escalator principle may cause an employee to be reemployed in a higher or lower position, laid off, or even terminated. For example, if an employee's seniority or job classification would have resulted in the employee being laid off during the period of service, and the layoff continued after the date of reemployment, reemployment would reinstate the employee to layoff status. Similarly, the status of the reemployment position requires the employer to assess what would have happened to such factors as the employee's opportunities for advancement, working conditions, job location, shift assignment, rank, responsibility, and geographical location, if he or she had remained continuously employed. The reemployment position may involve transfer to another shift or location, more or less strenuous working conditions, or changed opportunities for advancement, depending upon the application of the escalator principle.

20 CFR 1002.194