When Called to Serve, Comcast Has Their Backs

Throughout the last 20 years, millions of our friends, neighbors, and co-workers have put themselves in harm's way to defend others. Members of the National Guard and reserve are often Americans' closest connection to the U.S. military.

Since 2001, guardsmen and reservists have deployed to 80 countries, 14 combat zones and provided aid at home during natural disasters. During the outbreak of the COVID-19, we witnessed the largest mobilization of the National Guard since World War II. Many of our teammates at Comcast NBCUniversal answered the call, sometimes with less than 12 hours' notice, and went toward the danger to keep our communities safe. The last two decades have shown the incredible demand our country has for its skills and capabilities.

A lot has been and continues to be asked of the post-9/11 generation of guardsmen and reservists, and Comcast is committed to supporting the thousands of our teammates who continue to serve.

Military employees and their leadership rely on Comcast's unique Military Concierge Service to ensure a seamless experience as they transition to and from military duty.

The team consists of human resource professionals specializing in federal employment laws, military administrative paperwork and policies, and aiding both Comcast employees and their supervisors through the process. It's a full-time job to manage the unique circumstances these employees face when it's time to switch from civilian to service member and back again.

"The concierge service gives me peace of mind knowing that my Comcast pay, benefits, everything is being taken care of while I'm away serving," said Leriqua Jackson, an Xfinity Retail employee and Specialist in the Texas National Guard. "It helps me stay totally focused on my military mission." 

Andrew Furlong, an HRSD Specialist, is one of the behind-the-scenes faces of the Military Concierge Service and is the primary contact for military employees and their supervisors. "It's been great for employees to have a central resource for them before, during, and after they deploy or are away for other military duties," he explained.

For Sam Waltzer, a Comcast employee and Major in the New Jersey National Guard who recently returned from a year-long deployment, the support makes Comcast NBCUniversal stand out. "This type of support is rare to find among other employers, and it makes me incredibly proud to see how we support our military brothers and sisters."

According to Andrew, on an average day, he manages administrative tasks for 20 to 40 employees. At any given time, over 100 Comcast NBCUniversal employees are on a leave of absence from the company for military duties. Andrew said that because the Military Concierge Service has seen spikes in previous years, it was easy to manage the latest uptick. "The system has proven to work in handling situations like this."

Part of Andrew's role includes working with supervisors on how to manage their military employee's transition, and from his experience, Andrew encourages the importance of being understanding. "Comcast isn't this employee's only profession, so I think it's important for leaders to understand our company policies and federal laws, and we're here to help them make the impact on their teams as smooth as possible," he said.  

Though not a veteran himself, Andrew said that he's always had a passion for military history, so he welcomed the opportunity to be part of the Military Concierge Service under the company's Employee Service Center in Philadelphia. Andrew said that his experience working with military employees has been gratifying by helping military employees balance their Comcast and military careers. "It's awesome when you see a military employee manage the transition really well, and their leadership is beside them throughout the whole process."