Oregon Department of Justice

The Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Department of Justice worked with Fred Meyer to reach an agreement that benefits veterans

Veterans' Affairs Director Jim Willis and Attorney General John Kroger today announced an agreement with Fred Meyer Stores for the company to provide back pay and pension benefits to Oregon employees who were deployed for military service during the last seven years and to modify its employment practices.

"We are pleased that Fred Meyer, a progressive and prominent Oregon employer, has taken a proactive approach to comply with re-employment rights for all of its veteran employees," said Director Willis.

The Department of Justice in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs launched an investigation after receiving complaints from veterans that they had not received step increases and pension benefits during their periods of military deployment in violation of the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and state law. Once the concerns were brought to Fred Meyer's attention, the company was cooperative during the investigation and agreed to correct pay discrepancies for certain qualifying veterans.

Under the settlement, Fred Meyer agrees to:

• Identify all Oregon residents who took military leave from Fred Meyer employment on or after January 1, 2004, who returned to work within 90 days of discharge, and who were subject to a compensation structure providing for pay increases and pension benefits based on their time of service;
• Calculate and provide a pay  and pension adjustment that represents the difference between what the veteran received in step increases and pension benefits and what the veteran should have received if the veteran remained employed at Fred Meyer and had not gone on military leave;
• Going forward, provide deployed veterans step increases and pension benefits consistent with the terms of the agreement; and 
• Contact all qualifying veterans who were employed by Fred Meyer and advise them of the agreement.

Assistant Attorney General Diane Sykes and Keith Dubanevich, Chief of Staff and Special Counsel to Attorney General Kroger, handled the case.

Attorney General John Kroger leads the Oregon Department of Justice. The Department's mission is to fight crime and fraud, protect the environment, improve child welfare, promote a positive business climate, and defend the rights of all Oregonians.

• Fred Meyer Settlement (pdf)