Energy firm provides for military employees

In October of 2001, Cmdr. Mike Monfalcone was asked to leave his job and family to help fight the war on terror.

A member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, Cmdr. Monfalcone had worked at Dominion Resources Inc., a Richmond-based energy production and transportation company, for only eight months when he was called to duty at the Navy’s Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center in Norfolk.

Although Cmdr. Monfalcone was a Virginia resident and did not have to travel far, he said he still had to drop his work at Dominion and be away from his family Monday through Friday.

Cmdr. Monfalcone was mobilized from Oct. 2001 until Aug. 2003, and during that time, he not only continued to receive company benefits and was assured of having his job at Dominion when he returned, but the company also paid for his family’s medical insurance so that they would not have to switch doctors.

“We want to be sure our employees don’t have to worry about their income or their benefits while they’re serving our country,” said Jim Eck, vice president of human resources for Dominion.

Dominion and 14 other companies whose employment policies exceed requirements for treatment of active Reserve and National Guard employees were honored with Freedom Awards at ceremonies hosted by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Sept. 18.

Cmdr. Monfalcone nominated Dominion for the Freedom Award, the highest recognition of civilian employers for support of the armed forces. He’s now back at work for Dominion as a senior human resources specialist,

As a nominator, Cmdr. Monfalcone was invited to the award ceremony, but was deployed to Baghdad a few months before the event. He said that he knew it was a long shot, but he requested permission to attend the event.

The Navy informed him that he would be attending the ceremony and began working to fund his trip from Baghdad. Eventually, Capt. Jeff McKenzie, the commanding officer of the Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center agreed to fund his travel.

“The Navy really went above and beyond in helping me attend this event,” Cmdr. Monfalcone said. “[Capt. McKenzie] is the one that granted my unorthodox request.”

Cmdr. Monfalcone praised Dominion’s efforts during his first mobilization as well as his recent deployment overseas. He said in 70 days he received eight care packages, including everything from snacks and drink mixes to magazines and toiletries.

“The company doesn’t have to do any of that,” he said.

According to Mr. Eck, however, Dominion’s support of its 83 active Reserve and Guard employees is necessary. “We believe that our employee policies must help those who sacrifice to serve our nation,” he said.

Among other programs,Dominion offers up to 60 months of pay and benefits supplements for both voluntary and involuntary service. The pay covers training and active duty, he said. Dominion also allows employees a couple of weeks at home to reacclimate before returning to work.

Dominion also recently expanded its pension plan to offer disability benefits to employees who are injured while serving during a war and cannot return to work. “We don’t say that our support is ever done,” Mr. Eck said of the pension program.

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