Bill Overview
Title: FEMA Intermittent Personnel Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 2022
Description: This bill makes employment protections under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) applicable to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reservists who deploy to major disaster and emergency sites. It allows such reservists to claim such rights under USERRA even if they do not provide notice of their absence from work due to deployment.
Sponsors: Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
Target Audience
Population: FEMA reservists
Estimated Size: 12000
- USERRA currently applies to uniformed service members, providing them with employment and reemployment rights.
- FEMA reservists are a specific category of personnel who are called to service during major disasters or emergencies.
- FEMA reservists might not have had the same employment protections as other uniformed personnel before this bill.
- This bill extends the employment protections to FEMA reservists under similar conditions as those offered to other service members under USERRA.
- Employment and reemployment rights are crucial for FEMA reservists who must leave their civilian jobs to respond to disasters.
- The new rights apply immediately, allowing FEMA reservists to leave for emergency service without prior notice to their civilian employers.
Reasoning
- The target population for the new policy is FEMA reservists, who are estimated to be around 12,000 people according to the policy's brief.
- The budget constraints imply that the policy is expected to have modest but notable impacts on the wellbeing of FEMA reservists, enhancing job security and reducing anxieties related to employment retention during deployments.
- The impact of the policy is expected to vary based on factors such as the frequency of deployments, the type of civilian employment, and personal circumstances like family support.
- The broader population of civilian employers, who might experience minor disruptions due to employees deploying without notice, is much larger than FEMA reservists. However, their wellbeing scores are unlikely to change due to the policy.
- Given that the employment protection is similar to what military reservists already have, FEMA reservists are likely to experience improved job satisfaction and decreased stress levels related to job security.
- Individuals who are not directly affected by the policy, such as people who are neither FEMA reservists nor their employers, would generally see no change in their wellbeing scores due to this policy.
Simulated Interviews
FEMA reservist (Miami, FL)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy greatly boosts my confidence in leaving for deployments without needing to worry about losing my job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Software Engineer (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's important for our employees to have security when they serve, although it might be tricky with sudden absences.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Austin, TX)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support this, but having no notice can make it hard to manage shifts at my coffee shop.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
FEMA reservist (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am relieved knowing my civilian job is safe, now I can focus more on the mission.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Teacher (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see how this affects me, but it's good for those who are reservists.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
FEMA reservist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing I can return to my job without hassle is a big relief.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
HR Manager (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We're happy to support our FEMA reservists. The policy makes that easier, though last-minute changes are tough.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
FEMA reservist (Denver, CO)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This protection is crucial. I can now serve without fearing my healthcare job security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Manager at a warehouse (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a good move for reservists and we can manage their absences, though notice would be nice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Nurse (Kansas City, MO)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad my friends won't have to worry about their jobs when deployed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $6000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $8000000)
Year 2: $6000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $8000000)
Year 3: $6000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $8000000)
Year 5: $6000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $8000000)
Year 10: $6000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $8000000)
Year 100: $6000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $8000000)
Key Considerations
- FEMA reservists will now have employment protections similar to military service members, enhancing job security.
- Potential increased workload for DOL and FEMA's administrative bodies to enforce these protections effectively.
- Possibility of increased disputes and claims needing resolution regarding reemployment rights.
- Employers may need to adjust their HR policies to accommodate the changes for FEMA reservists.