Marsy's Law for Wisconsin Hosts Dane County Event Aimed at Fostering “Victim-Friendly Workplaces”
Dane County organizations partner to hold panel discussion on the development of workplace policies, practices, and procedures responsive to the interests of crime victims
MADISON – This week, Marsy's Law for Wisconsin hosted a community outreach event aimed at helping employers and managers understand how to create workplaces that are supportive of crime victims. The event included a panel discussion with participants focusing on the development of policies, practices, and procedures that are responsive to the interests of crime victims.
“Most employers can reasonably assume they have staff who are victims of crime – especially domestic and sexual abuse. The trauma and experience of these crimes can negatively impact a victim’s ability to function in the workplace and, in turn, negatively impact the company more broadly,” said Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin Outreach Director Nela Kalpic. “To ensure a supportive and inclusive workplace, it is critical that every employer understands the issues, existing local resources, and relevant laws – including Marsy’s Law.”
The event included panelists from LOTUS Legal Clinic, DaneMAC, E3Inspire, the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, and the Latino Chamber of Commerce. The panel discussion aimed to educate business owners and managers about existing local resources and relevant laws impacting crime victims, including Wisconsin’s crime victims’ rights amendment known as Marsy’s Law.
“As Greater Madison businesses work to create successful, inclusive workplaces for their employees, it is important that they have a strong understanding of the available resources,” said Zach Brandon, President of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. “We appreciated the opportunity presented by Marsy’s Law and other local organizations to help inform area employers about the strategies for ensuring that our businesses are responsive to the needs of victims.”
“Our communities are making great strides towards becoming more trauma-informed, and ensuring that our workplaces are supportive of victims is a crucial step in fostering their success and recovery,” added Rachel Sattler, Senior Managing Attorney at LOTUS Legal Clinic and Co-Founder and President of DaneMAC. “As Wisconsin continues to implement Marsy’s Law, it is important to ensure that Wisconsin residents and businesses know about these rights, as well as the resources available to them, in order to better support their colleagues and employees who might also be victims.”
A full list of the rights available to Wisconsin crime victims under Marsy’s Law is available here.
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About Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin
Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin is a grassroots coalition that championed a unique proposal to give victims of crime equal rights in our state, building on Wisconsin’s laws and history of leading on this issue. The crime victims’ rights state constitutional amendment, also known as Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin, was ratified during the April 7, 2020 election with an overwhelming 75 percent of voters in support. Marsy’s Law is named after Marsalee “Marsy” Nicholas of California who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Only one week after her death, Marsy’s mother and brother, Henry T. Nicholas, walked into a grocery store where they were confronted by the accused murderer. The family, who had just come from a visit to Marsy’s grave, was unaware that the accused had been released on bail. In an effort to honor his sister, Dr. Nicholas has made it his life’s mission to give victims and their families constitutional protections and equal rights.