Sexual harassment in the workplace is prohibited under both state and federal laws in Vermont. Sexual harassment is treated as a form of sex discrimination although in its more extreme form can involve physical violence such as sexual assault and rape. There are several resources available to you across the state. You should try and resolve the issue with your own employer first, but failing that, you can file a complaint with either the state anti discrimination agency or its federal equivalent. More serious cases involving a sex crime such as assault should be directed at the police. Sexual harassment unfortunately is emotionally traumatic but there are agencies across the state that exist to help support victims of sexual harassment and violence. The article below provides details of sexual harassment resources available to victims of sexual harassment in Vermont.
Administrative Resources
There are two main government agencies that deal with cases of sexual harassment.
The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) is the federal agency that enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act 1964. Federal legislation prohibits discrimination at work, including sex discrimination of which sexual harassment is an example. The EEOC’s investigatory powers are focused on cases of sexual harassment in workplaces where there are 15 or more employees.
In smaller workplaces, the state equivalent of the EEOC is the place to file a complaint. This is the Public Protection Division Civil Rights Unit of the Vermont Attorney General’s Office. Like the EEOC, this office regulates cases of workplace discrimination such as sexual harassment. Although both offices tend to have a work share agreement, you would find it easier to contact the PPDCRU office first as at least it has an office in Vermont whereas the EEOC does not. The other criterion is how large your workplace is as the EEOC will only investigate complaints of sexual harassment in larger workplaces.
The state’s only PPDCRU office is in Montpelier and contact details are as follows:
Vermont Attorney General's Office - Public Protection Division Civil Rights Unit
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609
Phone (802) 828-3171
Email: ago.info@vermont.gov
There are no EEOC offices in Vermont. The nearest offices are in Boston MA, Newark NJ, New York City or Buffalo NY. The Boston office contact details are given below:
Equal Employment Opportunities Commission
Address:
JFK Federal Building
15 New Sudbury Street, Room 475
Boston, MA 02203-0506
Phone: 1-800-669-4000
Fax: 617-565-3196
Emergency Resources for Victims
The worst cases of sexual harassment at work involve physical assault, which can include rape. These are not just cases of workplace sexual discrimination, but are crimes with severe penalties for the perpetrators if found guilty. You should contact 911 after a crime has been committed sand follow instructions. You could also contact your nearest police department closes to where you live, especially if you are contemplating filing a charge against the person who assaulted you. PD addresses are given below.
Castleton Police Department
Castleton, VT, United States
+1 802-468-5012
Town of Dover Police Department
Dover, VT, United States
+1 802-464-2020
Royalton Police Department
Royalton, VT, United States
+1 802-763-7776
Vermont State Police
Newport, VT, United States
+1 802-334-8881
Thetford Police Department
Thetford Center, VT, United States
+1 802-785-2200
Winhall Town Police Department
Winhall, VT, United States
+1 802-297-2121
Bennington Police Department
Bennington, VT, United States
+1 802-442-1030
South Burlington Police Department
South Burlington, VT, United States
+1 802-846-4111
Brattleboro Police Department
Brattleboro, VT, United States
+1 802-257-7946
Lyndonville Police Department
Lyndon, VT, United States
+1 802-626-1271
Barre Town Police Department
Websterville, VT, United States
+1 802-479-0508
Colchester Police Department
Colchester, VT, United States
+1 802-264-5556
Williston Police Department
Williston, VT, United States
+1 802-878-6611
Norwich Police Department
Norwich, VT, United States
+1 802-649-1460
Shelburne Police Department
Shelburne, VT, United States
+1 802-985-8051
Barre City Police Department
Barre, VT, United States
+1 802-476-6613
St Johnsbury Police Department
St Johnsbury, VT, United States
+1 802-748-2314
St Albans Police Department
St Albans City, VT, United States
+1 802-524-2166
Vermont State Police
St Albans City, VT, United States
+1 802-524-5993
UVM Police Department
Burlington, VT, United States · In the University of Vermont
+1 802-656-3473
Emotional Support Resources
Sexual harassment and assault whether it is in the workplace or elsewhere can be an emotionally exhausting and challenging experience. Each state has resources that can help victims of sexual harassment and assault cope with the emotional trauma of their experience. In Vermont the main hotline is 1-800-489-7273. There are 16 agencies across the state that can help with cases of sexual violence. They are mostly oriented towards incidents of domestic violence but can be approached when you are a victim of serious workplace sexual harassment or violence.
Address
Vermont Network Against
Domestic and Sexual Violence
P.O. Box 405 Montpelier, VT 05601
(802) 223-1302
info@vtnetwork.org
Get Help Today
If you are being sexually harassed, you can report it to the authorities at your job, school, or local law enforcement. If you believe you have been sexually harassed at work fill out a free evaluation form.
