Expanding workers’ rights for all survivors of violent crime.
The Illinois Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) was enacted in 2003 and gives survivors of domestic, sexual, and gender violence and their families protections against economic insecurity, especially loss of employment. Under current law, VESSA provides unpaid, job-protected leave and reasonable accommodations to employees who are survivors of domestic, sexual, and gender violence, as well as to employees who have family or household members who are survivors.
HB3582 amended VESSA to expand the category of protection for employees who are survivors of more crimes of violence as defined by the bill, or employees who have families or household members who are victims of the expanded crimes of violence. In 2019, I approached my State Representative Robyn Gabel with the idea to expand the VESSA to ensure that all individuals impacted by violent crimes, including gun violence, receive the necessary support and protection in the workplace, promoting a more inclusive and supportive environment for survivors and their families.
Throughout 2020 and 2021, I teamed up with Dr. Traci Kurtzer to organize with other trauma-informed doctors, gun violence survivors, and supporting organizations to build awareness and answer questions. With intentional outreach, Dr. Kurtzer and I gained additional bill sponsors, including the co-sponsor State Senator Robert Peters. We testified virtually in front of the various legislative committees, and worked tirelessly to get witness slips in support of the amended law.
The expansion to the passed the Illinois Senate and House with bipartisan support. Governor Pritzker signed into.
Deliverables:
- Organizing Strategy
- Policy Development
- Copywriting/Editing
- Communications Strategy
- Email Strategy
- Media Relations
- Continued advocacy to ensure updates on the IL Dept. of Labor website
Results:
As amended, affected employees — including those who experience gun violence or lose loved ones to gun violence — now receive the same unpaid, job-protected leave and protections as other victims of domestic, sexual, or gender violence previously covered by VESSA. Survivors may take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid time off during any 12-month period (length of leave depends on the number of employees). The unpaid time off can be used to seek medical treatment or counseling; access victim services, legal help, or attend court; relocate or take other actions to increase safety and address trauma.
The Act additionally prohibits employers from discriminating against VESSA-qualifying employees in terms of hiring, firing, income, promotion, harassment, and retaliation also requires that employers make various reasonable accommodations in the workplace for VESSA-qualifying employees.
The conversation around VESSA law expansion has inspired states around the country to introduce similar laws and to discuss how updating more policies to include all survivors of violent crime could lead to a positive shift in worker’s rights as well as an increase in ability to access necessary legal guidance and trauma recovery services in the wake of violent incidents.
