For Immediate Release:
Workplace Fairness Addresses Domestic Violence, Effects on Employment, and Legal Options
Organization Provides Resources for Working People, Lawyers and Advocates
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 17, 2014) Workplace Fairness has up to date information on domestic violence, how it can affect employment and what legal options and resources are in place. Stress from upcoming holidays and recent events with National Football League players' personal lives and how the NFL handles related employment issues have brought much attention to this very tough subject that affects people, mostly women and children, in all walks of life.
Domestic violence -- mental or physical abuse at the hands of an intimate partner -- often affects the victims' ability to work. According to Legal Momentum, an advocacy group, victims of domestic violence lose an average of 137 hours of work a year. Victims of intimate partner violence lose the equivalent of 32,000 full-time jobs due to abuse. Some need time off from work to seek medical attention, seek a restraining order, or relocate to a safe place. Others are prevented from getting to work when an abuser disables or takes the car, sabotages childcare arrangements, or leaves the victim without cash to use public transportation.
A number of states have passed domestic violence leave laws, which give victims of domestic violence the right to take time off for certain reasons. Some states allow victims or witnesses to take time off to attend legal proceedings. And, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may also provide a right to leave for some workers who are dealing with domestic violence.
The Workplace Fairness site can provide some general but thoughtful answers to such questions as the following:
- I am currently dealing with a domestic violence situation and afraid I will be fired at work. Do I have any legal protections?
- I was fired because I missed too much work while dealing with an abusive situation. Can I collect unemployment?
- I need to take off from work to go to court, but my employer won't give me the time off. What can I do?
- What employment policies might help to protect me in the workplace against domestic violence discrimination?
- How do I find out if my employer has policies that can help?
- How should I talk to my employer or supervisor about my domestic violence situation?
If you are experiencing problems at work related to your struggle with domestic violence you should consult an attorney in your area for more information. Not all states have laws specific to this situation and the right way to handle your problem will differ based on your state and locality. Visit Workplace Fairness for answers to these questions and up to date information on domestic violence,
For working people, Workplace Fairness can be a resource to find out about workplace rights in all 50 states. It can also be a place to find resources for help and information, like job survival tips from experts. The website site has a page with a link where questions can be submitted to be answered by an employment attorney.
Lawyers and advocates will find Workplace Fairness a source of workplace news, court decisions, class-action news and other important legal information. Check out recent posts on the blog here http://www.todaysworkplace.org/
Journalists can find current employment-related events and information, workplace news and court / class-action updates. Workplace Fairness can also be a resource of leading experts in the industry.
A visit to the site will give you more comprehensive information: https://www.workplacefairness.org/
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About Workplace Fairness
Workplace Fairness is a nonprofit organization that provides information, education and assistance to individual workers and their advocates nationwide and promotes public policies that advance employee rights.
Our goals are that workers and their advocates are educated about workplace rights and options for resolving workplace problems and those policymakers, members of the business community and the public at large view the fair treatment of workers as both good business practice and sound public policy.
Workplace Fairness works toward these goals by:
- making comprehensive information about workers' rights free of legal jargon readily available to workers and to advocates and organizations that assist workers;
- providing resources to support the work of legal services organizations, community-based organizations, law schools and private attorneys that provide free legal information and services to low-income workers
- presenting the employee perspective in publications, policy debates and public discussion.
The award-winning Workplace Fairness website, www.workplacefairness.org, has newly updated information throughout the site, as part of the Web's most comprehensive resource educating workers about their legal rights in the workplace.
Media Contact:
Paula Brantner
Executive Director
240-772-1205
paula@workplacefairness.org
www.workplacefairness.org