In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Alderman Matthew O’Shea introduced an ordinance that reaffirms the City of Chicago’s commitment to protecting and supporting its employees who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The city will also provide up to one month of paid leave for City employees who qualify for the Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (“VESSA”). An Illinois state law, VESSA requires employers to provide survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault with three months of unpaid leave. Under the ordinance, the Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources is charged to develop a policy and implement training to improve employees’ awareness of existing resources, their ability to recognize warning signs of abuse and act responsively in furtherance of this goal.

The ordinance was developed in coordination with Chicago Says No More, a coalition of 20 businesses, civic and philanthropic leaders collaborating with 25 executive directors of not-for-profit organizations with a mission to serve those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. Their Workplace EAP Task Force collaborated with Legal Momentum, the nation’s oldest legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the rights of women and girls, to create a model policy for employers. Information about the model policy is available at www.ChicagoSaysNoMore.org. For confidential information or resources on domestic violence, please call or text the City’s Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-877-TOENDDV (1-877-863-6338).