Vermont law protects people who are crime victims from discrimination at work. Federal law does not provide this same protection. Crime victim status is a protected category under Vermont’s Fair Employment Practices Act (FEPA).
A crime victim is defined by Vermont law as any of the following:
- a person who has obtained a relief from abuse order issued under 15 V.S.A. § 1103
- a person who has obtained an order against stalking or sexual assault issued under 12 V.S.A. chapter 178
- a person who has obtained an order against abuse of a vulnerable adult issued under 33 V.S.A. chapter 69
- a person who has 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
- the child, foster child, parent, spouse, stepchild or ward of the victim who lives with the victim, or a parent of the victim's spouse as defined in 13 V.S.A. § 5301
Employees who are crime victims and who have been continuously employed by the same employer for a period of six months for an average of at least 20 hours per week also 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
- hearings concerning an order against stalking or sexual assault
Resources on crime victim status and discrimination
More information about the laws protecting crime victims in Vermont:
- Vermont law prohibiting discrimination in employment against crime victims
- Vermont law giving crime victims the right to take unpaid leave for certain purposes
- Employment Protections for Victims of Crimes, Vermont Department of Labor - Workplace Poster (required in Vermont worksites)
More resources about crime victim protections in Vermont:
- Vermont League of Cities and Towns “Crime Victims are Now a Protected Class”
- U.S Justice Department’s Vermont Victim Services Resources Directory
- Legal help for crime victims through VT Law Help
- Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services
If you believe you may be a victim of workplace harassment or discrimination on the basis of any legally protected category or categories, find more information: