Vermont Crime Victims Leave Poster

Employment Protections for Victims of Crime	
Notice of Employee Rights 	
WHAT IS THE LAW? 	
Under Vermont law, crime victims 
are protected from harassment or 
other discrimination by employers 
based on their status as a crime 
victim.  Employers are also 
required to provide crime victims 
with job	-protected, unpaid leave to 	
attend certain legal proceedings 
relating to the crime.	
WHO IS A CRIME VICTIM? 	
Under the law, a “crime victim” is a 
person who has:
•	Obtained a relief from abuse 
order against a family or 
household member; 	
•	Obtained a court order against 
stalking or sexual assault	;	
•	Obtained a court order against 
abuse of a vulnerable adult	;or	
•	Sustained physical, emotional or 
financial injury as the direct 
result of a crime, and is identified 
as a crime victim in an affidavit 
filed by law enforcement.	
EFFECTIVE AS OF: 	
July 1, 2018	
EMPLOYEE RIGHTS 	
Employees who are crime victims 
have the right to take unpaid leave to 
attend:
•	Criminal proceedings  where the 
employee has a legal right or 
obligation to appear at the 
proceeding;	
•	Relief from abuse hearings and 
neglect or exploitation hearings 
under when the employee is a 
plaintiff; or	
•	Hearings concerning an order 
against stalking or sexual assault.	
While on crime victim leave, 
employees may use any accrued sick 
leave, vacation leave, or any other 
paid leave.  Employees must 
continue to receive employment 
benefits while on leave, and have the 
right to return to their same job or a 
comparable position upon return.	
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
VERMONT ATTORNEY GENERAL	
CIVIL RIGHTS UNIT	
109 State St., Montpelier, VT 05062
888	-745	-9195 OR 802	-828	-3657	
[email protected]	
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
14	-16 Baldwin St., Montpelier, VT 05062
800	-416	-2010 OR 802	-828	-2480	
www.hrc.Vermont.gov