Can employees request leave without pay for military service regardless of their accrued leave?

The option allowing employees to request leave without pay for military service without restrictions aligns with the protections provided under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). This federal law ensures that individuals who are called to active duty in the military can take a leave of absence for their service without jeopardizing their employment.

USERRA grants service members the right to seek leave for military service without the requirement to exhaust their accrued leave beforehand. This means that employees can initiate a request for leave without pay specifically for military obligations even if they have available accrued leave. The law aims to support service members by ensuring they can fulfill their military duties without facing the risk of losing their civilian jobs.

In this context, the other options fail to recognize the broad protections afforded by USERRA and create unnecessary restrictions that are not mandated by the law. This understanding is essential for the equitable treatment of service members in the civilian workforce.