Prior to seeking protection pursuant to the Volunteer Emergency Responders Job Protection Act, an employee acting as a volunteer emergency responder shall provide his or her employer with a written statement signed by the individual in charge of the department or another individual authorized to act for such individual notifying such employer that the employee serves as a volunteer emergency responder. An employee who is or who has served as a volunteer emergency responder shall notify his or her employer when such employee’s status as a volunteer emergency responder changes, including termination of such status.