Illinois Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) Poster Required

State of Illinois
Illinois Department of Labor

ILLINOIS
DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR

Victims’ Economic Security
and Safety Act (VESSA)
REQUIRED NOTICE FOR EMPLOYERS

VESSA provides employees who are victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other

crime of violence, and employees who have a family or household member who is a victim of such violence, with
unpaid, job-guaranteed leave; reasonable accommodations; and protections from discrimination and retaliation.
This time may be used if the employee or the employee’s family or household member is:
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Experiencing an incident of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence
Recovering from the violence;
Seeking or receiving medical help, legal assistance (including participation in legal proceedings), counseling,
safety planning, or other assistance;
Temporarily or permanently relocating;
Taking other actions to increase the safety of the victim from future domestic, sexual, or gender violence, or
any other crime of violence, or to ensure economic security.
Attending the funeral or alternative to a funeral if death is caused by crime of violence;
Making arrangements necessitated by a death caused by a crime of violence; or
Grieving a death caused by a crime of violence.

NOTICE AND CERTIFICATION Employees must provide the employer with at least 48 hours prior notice,

unless providing advance notice is not practicable. If an employee is unable to provide advance notice, an employee
must provide notice when an employee is able to do so, within a reasonable period of time after the absence.
Certification may be provided by a sworn statement of the employee and upon obtaining such other
documentation the employee shall provide one of the following:
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Documentation from an employee, agent or volunteer of a victim services organization, an attorney, a member
of the clergy, or medical or other professional assisting in addressing the violence;
A police, court, or military record;
A death certificate, published obituary, or written verification of death, burial, or memorial services, or
Other corroborating evidence.

DURATION OF LEAVE Effective January 1, 2024, employees with employers of any size are entitled to

2 additional weeks (would be additional leave to what the chart below shows) unpaid leave for reasons relating to
certain family or household member’s death due to a crime of violence to be completed within 60 days after the
date employee received notice of the death of the victim.

Leave permitted during a 12-month period under the act based on number of employees:
Number of employees

Leave permitted

1-14 employees
15-49 employees
50 or more employees

4 weeks
8 weeks
12 weeks

Leave may be taken consecutively, intermittently, or on a reduced work schedule basis.

For information on filing a complaint please call: 312-793-6797
or visit the website: labor.illinois.gov/vessa

ACCOMMODATIONS VESSA provides that employees are entitled to reasonable accommodations to address

the needs of the victim(s). Accommodations include, but are not limited to, an adjustment to the job structure,
workplace facility, work requirements, or telephone number, seating assignment, or physical security of the work area.

DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION VESSA prohibits employers from discriminating, retaliating, or
otherwise treating an employee or job applicant unfavorably if the individual involved:
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Is or is perceived to be a victim of domestic, sexual, or gender violence, or any other crime of violence;
Attended, participated in, prepared for, or requested leave to attend, participate in, or prepare for a
criminal or civil court or administrative proceeding relating to domestic, sexual, or gender violence, or any
other crime of violence;
•	 Requested or took VESSA leave for any reason;
•	 Requested an accommodation, regardless of whether the accommodation was granted;
•	 The workplace is disrupted or threatened by the action of a person whom the individual states has committed or
threatened to commit domestic, sexual, or gender violence, or any other crime of violence, against the individual
or the individual’s family or household member; or
•	 Exercised any other rights under VESSA.
CONFIDENTIALITY Employers must maintain the confidentiality of all information pertaining to the use of VESSA
leave, notice of an employee’s intention to take VESSA leave, and certification provided by the employee.

labor.illinois.gov • [email protected]
Lincoln Tower Plaza

Michael A Bilandic Building

Regional Office Building

524 South 2nd Street, Suite 400
Springfield, Illinois 62701
(217) 782-6206
Fax: (217) 782-0596

160 North LaSalle, Suite C-1300
Chicago, Illinois 60601-3150
(312) 793-2800
Fax: (312) 793-5257

2309 West Main Street, Suite 115
Marion, Illinois 62959
(618) 993-7090
Fax: (618) 993-7258

Printed by the Authority of State of Illinois 06/24 IOCI 24-2245