General Casualty Insurance Companies was recognized Nov. 2 for supporting its employees’ participation in the National Guard and Reserve forces. Darwin Fosse from the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented Joe Cranny, vice president of General Casualty’s Minneapolis branch office, with the Patriot Award certificate of appreciation in a small ceremony at the company’s Minneapolis office.
General Casualty employee and Army reservist Tim Dahlke nominated the company for the Patriot Award. Dahlke was called to duty by the U.S. Army last September and spent two months training in South Carolina and Mississippi before being released for medical reasons. Reggie Richardson, a commercial lines accounts specialist in General Casualty’s Des Moines, Iowa, office, has been serving near Kabul, Afghanistan, since February.
“The company was very supportive when I was called up,” said Dahlke. “They were so helpful when I was preparing to leave and while I was in training. I’m very grateful for the generosity of General Casualty and the support of my coworkers. If I needed anything, all I had to do was ask and I know they would have provided it.”
The ESGR sponsors several awards designed to recognize employers for employment policies and practices that are supportive of their employees’ participation in the National Guard and Reserve forces. Other awards include the local ESGR Committee Chair’s award, Pro Patria award and Employer Support Freedom Awards.
A General Casualty employee who leaves his or her position to serve in the U.S. military is guaranteed the same or an equivalent position upon returning. Several guidelines apply, but full-time employees can serve up to five years and during that time period their benefits and seniority accrue, and they can also receive up to one year of partial pay from the Company if their military pay is less than what they earn at GC.
The company also received the Employer Support of the Guard award last September, in recognition of its Operation Orange program. Employees collected and sent care packages to soldiers stationed in Iraq from 2002 to 2004.
For more information please contact Anne M. Smith.