Asurion, the global leader in technology protection services, this week accepted the Pro Patria award, given annually by the Defense Department Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) committee. The award honors employers “who show exceptional support for our national defense by adopting personnel policies that make it easier for employees to participate in the National Guard and Reserve.”
Among the qualities considered by the ESGR in bestowing the award is an employer’s commitment to accommodating the needs of active service men and women through flexible schedules, time off before and after deployment to be with family and granting leaves of absence if necessary.
The award was presented at Asurion’s headquarters in Nashville by Carl Lambert, the Chairman for the Tennessee ESGR Committee and Don Bradley, COL (Ret.), and accepted by Bill Hoke, Vice President, Finance for Asurion.
“We are honored to support those employees who are serving our country,” said Hoke. “We work hard to create policies that allow flexibility for our employees and this award truly reflects those efforts. We’re grateful to the ESGR for their recognition.”
Asurion has a long history of supporting service members through donations of time and money to programs such as the Snowball Express and the Wounded Warrior Project. This month, Asurion used their annual Sales, Marketing and Product meeting to commence Operation Military Care, where employees created care packages for service men and women who are overseas. Asurion was also awarded the Patriot Award by ESGR in 2012 and nominated for the ESGR’s 2012 Freedom Award.
In addition to creating an accommodating work environment, Asurion supports service member-employees with additional services that go well beyond what the law requires. For example, the company will provide gap pay and full benefits during the first year an employee is called to active duty or training. This allows family members to maintain financial security while their loved one is serving abroad.