(20 ILCS 605/605-550) (was 20 ILCS 605/46.71)
Sec. 605-550. Model domestic violence and sexual assault employee awareness and assistance policy.
(a) The Department shall convene a task force including members of the business community, employees, employee organizations, representatives from the Department of Labor, and directors of domestic violence and sexual assault programs, including representatives of statewide advocacy organizations for the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault, to develop a model domestic violence and sexual assault employee awareness and assistance policy for businesses.
The Department shall give due consideration to the recommendations of the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for participation by any person on the task force, and shall make reasonable efforts to assure regional balance in membership.
(b) The purpose of the model employee awareness and assistance policy shall be to provide businesses with the best practices, policies, protocols, and procedures in order that they ascertain domestic violence and sexual assault awareness in the workplace, assist affected employees, and provide a safe and helpful working environment for employees currently or potentially experiencing the effects of domestic violence or sexual assault. The model plan shall include but not be limited to:
(1) the establishment of a definite corporate policy
statement recognizing domestic violence and sexual assault as workplace issues as well as promoting the need to maintain job security for those employees currently involved in domestic violence or sexual assault disputes;
(2) policy and service publication requirements,
including posting these policies and service availability pamphlets in break rooms, on bulletin boards, and in restrooms, and transmitting them through other communication methods;
(3) a listing of current domestic violence and sexual
assault community resources such as shelters, crisis intervention programs, counseling and case management programs, and legal assistance and advocacy opportunities for affected employees;
(4) measures to ensure workplace safety including,
where appropriate, designated parking areas, escort services, and other affirmative safeguards;
(5) training programs and protocols designed to
educate employees and managers in how to recognize, approach, and assist employees experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, including both victims and batterers; and
(6) other issues as shall be appropriate and relevant
for the task force in developing the model policy.
(c) The model policy shall be reviewed by the task force to assure consistency with existing law and shall be made the subject of public hearings convened by the Department throughout the State at places and at times which are convenient for attendance by the public, after which the policy shall be reviewed by the task force and amended as necessary to reflect concerns raised at the hearings. If approved by the task force, the model policy shall be provided as approved with explanation of its provisions to the Governor and the General Assembly not later than one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. The Department shall make every effort to notify businesses of the availability of the model domestic violence and sexual assault employee awareness and assistance policy.
(d) The Department, in consultation with the task force, providers of services, the advisory council, the Department of Labor, and representatives of statewide advocacy organizations for the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault, shall provide technical support, information, and encouragement to businesses to implement the provisions of the model.
(e) Nothing contained in this Section shall be deemed to prevent businesses from adopting their own domestic violence and sexual assault employee awareness and assistance policy.
(f) The Department may survey businesses within 4 years of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly to determine the level of model policy adoption amongst businesses and shall take steps necessary to promote the further adoption of such policy.
(Source: P.A. 96-739, eff. 1-1-10.)
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Last modified: February 18, 2015