Longer Tours Take Their Toll On Reservists, Guard Employers

The news from Iraq continues to dominate the headlines, but the war is taking a silent toll at home on employers and their employees. Companies across industries are coping with the extended tours of duty of reservists and guardsmen and women. Many who had expected to be gone for a few weeks or months, at most, have been away for a year or more.One small company that has been dramatically influenced by the recalls of reservists is Fallon Ambulance Co. Fallon has fewer than 100 employees, but is the largest private ambulance company in the metro Boston area. "We currently have 18 employees who have been on military leave," says Stephanie Eastwick, its director of human resources. "We have six who are currently on active duty. A number of individuals have been deployed multiple times. That has impacted the work force. Everyone has to pick up where the other has left off until they return." By Gene Koprowski