Sexual Harassment Resources in Vermont

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.

Additional Resources