The Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act: Training for Survivors, Advocates, and Employers

Learn about the employment protections in place for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

A training seminar on the Victims’ Economic and Security Act (VESSA) to educate survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and the survivors’ advocates and employers and other interested persons about the VESSA provisions is available from the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law.

Many domestic-violence, dating-violence, sexual-assault, and stalking victims suffer adverse consequences at their workplaces due to their victimization. Too often victims face the threat of losing their jobs or of being denied time off to attend to issues related to the violence in their lives such as going to court, attending medical appointments, or moving residences.

VESSA having been signed into law in Illinois in 2003, employment protection provisions are in place for employees who are survivors or who have family or household members who are survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. By promoting their employment stability, economic security, and safety, VESSA helps such employed survivors.

Developed by the Shriver Center, the training seminar highlights VESSA provisions such as:

  • Entitlement to unpaid, job-guaranteed leave for domestic or sexual violence. VESSA allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave from work during any 12-month period to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
  • Employment sustainability. VESSA prohibits employers from refusing to hire, discharging, harassing, or otherwise discriminating against applicants and employees with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment based on the applicants’ or employees’ status as a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
  • Enforcement. VESSA is administered and enforced by the Illinois Department of Labor. A complaint must be filed within three years after the alleged violation occurred. An employee may recover damages, for example, lost wages and employment benefits, attorney fees, and other relief such as reinstatement and promotion.

If your organization is interested in scheduling a VESSA training session, or for more information, contact Wendy Pollack at or 312.263.3830 ext. 238.