The THW Act governs the leave of absence necessary for volunteers to take part in operations, exercises and training during working hours. Its provisions are intended to ensure that no disadvantage is suffered by the employer or the employee because of the latter’s volunteer commitment to the THW. Private employers can request a refund of the wages and social insurance contributions paid. Although operations are unpredictable, a certain amount of notice can often be given to allow employees to arrange their periods of absence in advance.

In fact, employers can often benefit positively from their employees’ voluntary commitment: they receive a practical training and the opportunity to pass officially recognised driving tests, they enhance their resilience to stress, their conflict resolution skills, sense of responsibility and teamwork in extreme situations.