The Justice Department has reached an agreement with Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) to protect the rights of Major Stephen W. Terry of the Kansas Army National Guard under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). This settlement comes after Major Terry claimed that KCKCC broke the law by firing him from his role as Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Services when he returned from military duty.
As part of the agreement, KCKCC will pay Major Terry for the wages he lost after his termination. Additionally, the college will provide training to its management and human resources teams. This training will focus on the rights of servicemembers and the responsibilities employers have under USERRA.
This case highlights the protections in place to support military personnel who serve their country and return to civilian jobs. It also reminds employers of their legal duties to respect those rights. The settlement aims to ensure that servicemembers like Major Terry receive fair treatment at work after fulfilling their military commitments.