Federal laws that protects victim employment rights

The Occupational Safety and Health Act mandates that all employers are to provide their employees with work environments that are free from recognizable hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or harm to employees (including violence). The Occupational and Saftey Administration has four categories of violence. Violence by Strangers, Client/Customers, Coworkers and Personal ...Relationships(domestic violence would fall into this category). According to OSHA, in their "elements of a workplace violence prevention program," employees that are victims of domestic violence need to be aware and feel secure in alerting their employees to a potential for a workplace attack ( i.e. victims should not be threatened with termination or fear of termination if they are victims of domestic violence.) OSHA also recommends that workplace violence policies should be implemented that 1. address the confidentiality of the employee's personal information; 2. deny or restrict workplace access to the employee relatives or outside visitors and 3. allow flexibility in the use of leave, work schedule and transfers where employees may be at risk of violence.

A Little History for You

In the 1970s “Speak Outs” were the most common avenue of protest and activism. As we all know the 70s represented political and social change and it was during this time that women were advocating for reproductive rights, freedom of sexual expression, equal pay and breaking the mold of the role of what a women or wife should be or do. A few of the issues that related to d...omestic relations were husbands forcing their wives to have sex (marital rape) and husbands physically battering/ abusing their wives. This is how the issue of domestic violence began to receive attention and grassroots organizing for public policy, funding, advocacy and shelters for victims of domestic violence.

Men's Friday Number 1

MEN'S FRIDAY: #1 Approach gender violence as a MEN'S issue involving men of all ages and socioeconomic, racial and ethnic backgrounds. View men not only as perpetrators or possible offenders, but as empowered bystanders who can confront abusive peers.

IRS and Domestic Violence: What's the Connection?

The Office of Tax Payer Advocates is lobbying for congress to
mandate that certain IRS employees receive domestic violence training to
recognize and address domestic violence for taxpayers that are victims.
Many IRS employees often perceive lack of information, incomplete information or no knowledge of tax information ( which is common with victims of
domestic violence) as deceptive/ illegal activity. The projected result is to bring
awareness to discrepancies, protect victims and prevent the possibility of
penalties to victims.


http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/domestic-taxes/203641-advocate-irs-needs-greater-understanding-of-domestic-violence

Intimate Partner Violence: Female vs. Male experiences

Female victims of intimate partner violence experienced different patterns of violence than male victims. Female victims experienced multiple forms (rape only; rape,physical violence and stalking; physical violence and stalking; rape and stalking; rape and physical violence; stalking only) of these types of violence; male victims most often experienced physical violence. NISVS, 2010

First Congregation Church DV Support Group

If any of you have friends or family members that live in Crystal Lake or the surrounding area, check this out. First Congregational Church (461 Pierson Street) church will have it's first Domestic Violence Support Group meeting on Tuesday, January 17, 2012. The meeting location and time will be given when you sign up for the group. Please call Lisa at the church office at (815)459-6010.

New Illinois Law

House Bill 3365, which went into effect January 1, prohibits offenders convicted at any time of domestic battery from obtaining a Firearm Owner Identification card.