A class-action lawsuit brought by military service members against Southwest Airlines has resulted in a landmark settlement that will see the airline provide short-term military leave for workers starting next year.

Southwest has agreed to provide up to 10 days of short-term military leave and to pay $18.5 million in compensation to nearly 2,800 former and current employees who alleged that their rights as service members under the Uniformed Services and Reemployment Rights Act were being violated. The agreement requires court approval.

“This agreement with Southwest Airlines marks a major inflection point in terms of how employers think about paid military leave,” Michael Scimone, a partner at Outten and Golden and co-lead counsel for the class, said in a statement . “We hope it sends

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