BLUE BELL, Pa. – Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an office of the Department of Defense, announced that Inhospital Physicians recently received a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of employees serving in the Guard and Reserve.

Pennsylvania ESGR is particularly proud to present employers with a Patriot Award for their strong and unwavering support of their employees serving in our nation’s Reserve forces.

Chief Executive Officer Dr. Hemanth Neeli was nominated for the Patriot Award by Spc. David Wilson who is attending Officer Candidate School with the Washington Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 205th Regional Training Institute stationed in Camas, Washington.

Spc. Wilson works remotely at home in the Camas are as a scheduler for Inhospital Physicians medical professionals that staff their client hospitals and clinics.

In nominating Neeli for the Patriot Award, Spc. Wilson stated: “They owners of this company are extremely supportive of my military service. When I informed them, I was joining the National Guard they assured me that my job was safe and when I returned from Basic Training, they welcomed me with open arms. (In addition to supporting me,) I know they (the company) sent care packages to one of my supervisors when he was deployed overseas!”

Wes Craig, Pennsylvania Chair Emeritus and Southeast Area Chair presented the Patriot Award to Neeli and commented: “It’s critical and an honor to recognize and pay tribute to those employers that hire and support our Guard and Reserve forces. It would be difficult for those in the uniformed services to perform their mission without employer support.” Craig added: “Today’s members of the Guard and Reserves are highly trained and skilled; they bring integrity, a global perspective and, proven leadership to the civilian workforce.”

In addition to presenting the Patriot Award, Craig obtained a Statement of Support from Neeli who stated: “We are very honored to be recognized with this award and support those who serve in the Reserve Forces.” The Statement of Support confirms that the company joins other employers in pledging:
• We fully recognize, honor, and comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA).
• We will provide our managers and supervisors with the tools they need to effectively manage employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.
• We appreciate the values, leadership and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists and Veterans.
• We will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families, in peace, in crises and in war.

Inhospital Physicians joins a cadre of Fortune 500 companies, state and federal, agencies and thousands of America’s employers in demonstrating support for our armed forces. Craig added: “By signing the Statement of Support, Inhospital Physicians is sending a clear message to its employees that while they are serving their country, they do not have to worry about their civilian jobs.”

“Today, supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units,” said Craig. “I am asking all Southeast Pennsylvania employers to take a look at their current human resources policies to incorporate policies supportive of Guard and Reserve employees.” Craig also noted that many Pennsylvania employers provide support above and beyond their legal requirements under the USERRA law and offer pay-differential to offset the loss of wages, an extension of health care benefits to complement coverage provided by the military, when their employees mobilize.

ESGR, a Department of Defense office, seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States. ESGR facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by developing and advocating mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members, and acting as the employers’ principal advocate within DoD. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

For more information about ESGR Outreach Programs, or ESGR volunteer opportunities, please call 1-800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil/PA

Photo (L–R): Patriot Award recipient Dr. Neeli and Pennsylvania ESGR Southeast Area Chair Craig.