Employing a member of the Reserve Forces

Reservists are a vital part of the UK's Armed Forces and make valuable contributions as civilian employees. With different types of reservists, they offer benefits to employers such as transferable skills of teamwork, leadership, self-confidence, decisiveness and communication.

This guide explains how employers can develop HR policies to take into account the rights and responsibilities surrounding the employment of Reservists. It also explains how Defence Relationship Management (DRM) links employers with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and provides support and advice for both employers and Reservists.

In addition, since 1 October 2014, Reservists and their employers are now affected by legal changes announced within the Defence Reform Act 2014.

These changes are a big step forward, as they address employers' views fed into the white paper indicating that the costs of employing a Reservist outweighed the benefits.

The 2014 legislation for Reservists and their employers also gives Reservists a more prominent role within Future Force 2020 and greater job security.