Illinois Department of Labor launches statewide awareness campaign on VESSA protections in the workplace

[OCT. 17, 2005]  CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich has proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Illinois, and the Illinois Department of Labor launched a statewide program on VESSA, the Victim's Economic Security and Safety Act, which provides at-work support to employees who are victims themselves or who have a family or household member who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence.

"Workers who have been victims of domestic violence or sexual assault need help from their employers, whether it's getting time off to find the legal, medical or psychological help they need; working a different shift; or even being transferred to a different location or department," Blagojevich said. "The VESSA act gives them the protections they need, including protections from employer discrimination. But we need to get the word out to employers and communities about the epidemic of domestic violence and the protections that are available under the law."

The Illinois Department of Labor will work with the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to conduct a series of training seminars on domestic violence awareness and to educate workers, employers and the general public on how to prevent discrimination in the workplace.

The Victim's Economic Security and Safety Act provides employees who are victims of domestic or sexual violence, or who have a family or household member who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence, with up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave from work, without fear of being fired by their employers. The law requires employers to help a worker who has been the victim of domestic violence or sexual violence with accommodations that may include a modified work schedule or a transfer to a different location or department. The law went into effect on Aug. 25, 2003, making Illinois one of only a handful of states with workplace protections specifically for victims of domestic or sexual violence.

The Department of Labor will kick off statewide training seminars with a press conference and outreach event in Peoria on Thursday to raise domestic violence awareness. Speakers will include Art Ludwig, director of the Department of Labor; Carol Adams, secretary of the Department of Human Services; and a representative of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

A free training seminar designed for employee and employer groups, domestic and sexual assault service providers, health care professionals, and human resource professionals will follow the press conference. Trainers will present details on the Victim's Economic Security and Safety Act, its protections, and how to file a complaint with the Department of Labor. Notices and resource booklets will be distributed, including information on accessing VESSA via the Internet.

Schedule for additional training seminars:

• Oct. 19 -- Parkland College Conference Center, 2400 W. Bradley Ave., Champaign, IL 61812
• Oct. 21 -- Southwestern Illinois College Theatre, 2500 Carlyle Ave, Belleville, IL 62221
• Oct. 24 -- Lakeland College Theatre, 5001 Lake Land Blvd., Mattoon, IL 61938
• Oct. 26 -- Western Illinois University, 1 University Center, Union Sandberg Theater, Macomb, IL 61455
• Oct. 27 -- Kishwaukee College, 21193 Malta Road, Jenkins Auditorium A224, Malta, IL 60150

People interested in attending the free seminars can make reservations by calling [phone].

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority received $1.3 million in federal funding last year toward its domestic violence prevention services, and the Department of Human Services works with 66 multiservice domestic violence programs and offers 24-hour crisis lines, counseling and advocacy. This year, the governor announced that Illinois received a $4.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for programs to help women who are victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. The grant supports centers in Peoria and Belleville that will house law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges and service providers, allowing victims to access legal assistance, social services and other support they need in one center. The program includes training for law enforcement officers and prosecutors, so that victims have to give testimony only once, and will also support shelters for domestic violence victims in Rockford, Quincy, DeKalb, Olney, Freeport, Chicago, Tinley Park, Addison and Aurora.

According to the Department of Human Services, its funded domestic violence programs provided services to 66,968 individual adults and children -- responding to 204,121 calls, providing 629,650 hours of service and 273,190 days of shelter.

"By conducting the VESSA awareness campaign in communities statewide, IDOL strives to bring these issues to the forefront and facilitate employer-employee strategies for maintaining safe workplaces," said Ludwig, department director.

Employers with 50 or more employees, including the state of Illinois and any unit of local government or school district, are subject to the Victim's Economic Security and Safety Act and are prohibited from discharging, harassing or otherwise discriminating against any employee with respect to compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment.

Any employee who believes his or her rights have been violated may file a complaint within three years after the alleged violation occurs by calling [phone] or by visiting http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol. If you are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, call the Domestic Violence Hotline: [phone]-SAFE [7233].

Since taking office, Blagojevich has focused state resources on preventing abuse and assisting victims. He has signed several pieces of legislation that call for stiffer penalties for batterers and other safeguards for victims of domestic and sexual battery.

Text of the governor's proclamation:

WHEREAS, every 15 seconds in the United States a woman is beaten. Of all female murder victims, 40% are killed by their husbands or partners for a total of over 300 domestic violence homicides every year in the U.S.; and

WHEREAS, in Illinois alone, over 300,000 women are victims of domestic violence each year; and

WHEREAS, in 2004, domestic violence programs in Illinois responded to over 204,121 hotline calls and provided 629,650 hours of service to victims. These same programs also conducted over 38,997 hours of prevention and outreach activities that reached a multitude of community members; and

WHEREAS, agencies within my administration have been working tirelessly to eliminate the threat of domestic violence and to educate citizens on why it is wrong and what can be done to prevent it from happening in the future; and

WHEREAS, many laws have been passed to help victims of domestic violence so that they remain safe and protected, as well as not discriminated against in any circumstance; and

WHEREAS, throughout the state, domestic violence service providers will be hosting several events in October to spread the message of awareness and prevention of this terrible crime:

THEREFORE, I, Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim October 2005 as DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH in Illinois, and encourage all citizens to educate themselves about this crime and support those who work to eliminate it from our society.

[Illinois Department of Labor news release]

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