They weren't happy because I left for 7 months and then extended for the next two fiscal years.
Tough sh*t... To them and legally you are being recalled for military duty. They do not need to know you are the one asking for extensions. I've been out since September 2020 and I keep extending my orders on a month-by-month basis.
I didn't mean to say that I told them the type of orders.
You are not required to do so. You tell them you will be out on military duty and depending on your HR processes, you submit your orders, etc.. Let them figure out the rest, especially if your employer is a toilet bowl in which case do
exactly what your HR manual requires you to do.
If your orders are 30 days or less your company handles everything internally. If your orders are 31 days or more, they outsource the handling of them to an external insurance firm like
Lincoln Financial who actually pays your differential salary, if any, and not your company because your company is paying Lincoln for said coverage.
BT
What I have learned is that CEO's and Boards like to advertise their support of military employees - because it is good marketing and they receive tax credits - but, in the end, your experience as a Reservist at a company is solely dependent on your 1- and 2- up manager.
BT
Don't even think if putting your Reserve duty on your resume or telling a potential employer about it. If and when you have to fill out an official job application (i.e., the application you fill out
after receiving and accepting a job offer), then yes, put your Reserve time in, otherwise, don't even mention it. Ever. Why? In my experience, it's never been appropriate to do so (i.e., it's never come up in discussions) and because I've been screwed over a time or two (e.g., having a job offer rescinded or final interview suddenly cancelled) after bringing it up.