A number of civilian military employees in Illinois returned to work Monday thanks to the Pay Our Military Act, which Congress passed just before the government shutdown took effect last Tuesday.

Illinois National Guard spokesman Mike Chrisman told the Chicago Tribune that most of the Guard's approximately 1,100 federal technicians were called back to work today.

Illinois National Guard workers with the public information and inspector general's offices as well as employees who deal with internal review and travel vouchers have not yet been asked back, however, Chrisman said. The spokesman added that it is not yet known whether the returning workers would receive retroactive pay for the days off the job.

Also, the majority of the Naval Station Great Lakes' 2,500 furloughed employees returned to their job Monday, said Senior Chief Petty Officer Abigail Lehtinen.

Lehtinen added that more workers may come back to work later this week.