Advancing Safety through Employment Rights
A large percentage of survivors of domestic and sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence struggle to remain connected to the workforce as they face numerous challenges in obtaining and maintaining employment as a consequence of abuse. In the last 20 years, many states and the federal government have adopted legislation to provide survivors with workplace rights and protections. However, few survivors, advocates, or lawyers working with survivors are aware of these laws and protections. As a result, it is common for survivors of domestic violence to lose their jobs while attempting to access legal, health, or other support services. The resulting economic insecurity becomes an added barrier survivors must face to maintain safety for themselves and their children.
The Advancing Safety through Employment Rights Advocacy Project will address the gap in awareness of and access to survivors’ employment rights and protections. By working with attorneys and advocates and providing trainings, technical assistance, and practical tools, the project aims to build capacity to assist survivors – particularly Black, Latina, and Indigenous survivors, survivors with disabilities, survivors who are Deaf, and/or LGBTQIA+ survivors – with the unique challenges they face in accessing and utilizing their employment protections.
Upcoming Educational Opportunities
The project will provide a suite of educational opportunities designed for attorneys, advocates, and survivors. These include the following opportunities.
Informational resources, guides, templates, and tools for each target audience.
Learning exchanges on best practices and practical strategies to be replicated and tailored to local communities.
National webinars highlighting and explaining specific legal protections available to survivors and how best to use them on the following topics:
- Stalking and Employment Rights;
- Domestic Violence Awareness and Employment of Persons with Disabilities; and
- Teen Dating Awareness and Black History Month.
A two-day in-person interactive learning program that builds on learners’ knowledge, leverages existing tools and resources, and provides participants with opportunities to apply new knowledge and resources.
National Partners
The Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence works to increase access to justice for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking by mobilizing the legal profession.
Trauma-Informed Representation Project
Activating Changes works to end victimization, criminalization and incarceration of people with disabilities and Deaf people.
Creating and Maintaining a Safety Net for Survivors with Disabilities
Compensation Considerations for Self Advocates Receiving Government Benefits
Forging New Collaborations: A Guide for Rape Crisis, Domestic Violence, and Disability Organizations
The Los Angeles LGBT Center is a safe and welcoming place where the LGBTQ+ community finds help, hope, and support when it is needed the most.
The Institute’s Ongoing Learning Center of On-Demand Courses on LGBTQ IPV
Training on Mitigating Barriers in Employment – Centering LGBTQ+ Survivors
Legal Momentum is the nation’s oldest legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the rights of women and girls.
Syms Legal Momentum Gender Equality Helpline
State Guide on Employment Rights for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking
The Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center ensures allied professionals have the knowledge to identify and respond to the crime of stalking.
Workplace Stalking Fact Sheet (English)
Acecho en el Lugar de Trabajo – Hoja de Datos (Spanish)
SPARC’s Definition of and FAQs about Stalking
Contact Us
Disclaimer: This project is supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GK-05464-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed on this site or in any materials on this site, are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.