Employment Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking

AUGUSTA-Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette has issued a reminder about the laws that protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in employment situations.

"October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "However, domestic abuse isn't an issue that we should pay attention to only one month during the year - it's a topic that targets victims every day. The Department of Labor offers protections to workers or their family members who are victims of domestic violence when they need to take time away from work to get help. Maine employers are compassionate towards victims of abuse, but everyone should be aware of these protections."

"State law offers protections for workers who need to take leave from work and also for workers who need to leave their job in order to start over in a safe place," stated Commissioner Paquette. "If you have to leave your job because of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, you may be able to file for unemployment benefits as you look for new employment. If you or a loved one is in any of these situations, you should contact the department to learn about your rights under the law."

Under Maine's employment laws, an employee who is a victim of domestic violence must be allowed time off from work with or without pay to prepare for and attend court proceedings, receive medical treatment or obtain necessary services to remedy a crisis caused by domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. The employee must request the time off. Leave must also be allowed if the employee's child, parent or spouse is the victim.

Under recent changes that went into effect in October 2015, the worker must report the suspected violation to the Department of Labor within six months of the denial of leave. If the department finds that the worker should have been granted leave, a fine of up to $1,000 for each violation may be assessed against the employer. In addition, the employer is liable for liquidated damages in an amount equal to three times the amount of total assessed fines. If the worker was found to have been terminated in violation of the law, the worker may elect either the liquidated damages or reemployment with the employer with back wages.

If a worker needs to quit their job due issues related to being a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, that person might be eligible for unemployment benefits, and the employer's experience rating will not be charged. If the worker has made all reasonable efforts to keep the job but voluntarily leaves work to avoid domestic abuse, the worker may be eligible to file for unemployment benefits. A worker may not be disqualified from receiving benefits because of misconduct if the worker's actions were based solely on the need to protect herself (himself) or an immediate family member from domestic violence, and she made all reasonable efforts to keep the job.

Maine CareerCenters are available to assist victims look for new employment. Visit http://www.mainecareercenter.com for locations.

Call the department at (207) 623-7900 for answers to questions about these laws or to obtain a copy of the laws. An optional labor law poster about these statutes is available at no charge for downloading or printing at http://www.maine.gov/labor/posters/index.html .

The Maine Department of Labor is an equal opportunity provider. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

Maine joins coalition of 25 states, cities and counties in defense of EPA Clean Power Plan

 

 

 

11/04/2015 02:24 PM EST

(AUGUSTA) Attorney General Janet T. Mills announced today Maine is joining a coalition of 25 states, cities and counties filing a motion to intervene to defend the federal Environmental Protection Agency's "Clean Power Plan" against legal challenge. The coalition's motion to intervene in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit responds to suits that several states and industry groups have filed challenging the rule. The Clean Power Plan rule requires fossil-fueled power plants, the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in the nation, to cut their emissions pursuant to the Clean Air Act.

"Maine people in particular bear the burden of dirty power plants to the west," said Attorney General Mills. "Fossil fuel burning power plants beyond Maine's borders contribute not only to poor air quality locally, but they can also be blamed for fish consumption warnings due to mercury emitted from their smokestacks. The EPA needs to take steps to protect the health of Maine people and our environment by adopting the Clean Power Plan."

The EPA adopted the Clean Power Plan through a multi-year stakeholder process that drew heavily on the experience of states and utilities in reducing power plant greenhouse gas emissions.

The finalization of the Clean Power Plan marks the culmination of a decade-long effort by states and cities to require mandatory cuts in the emissions of climate change pollution from fossil fuel burning power plants under the Clean Air Act. The Clean Power Plan, along with the companion rule on new, modified, and reconstructed power plants, will control these emissions by setting limits on the amount of climate change pollution that power plants can emit. The rule for existing plants is expected to eliminate as much climate change pollution as is emitted by more than 160 million cars a year - or 70% of the nation's passenger cars.

The Attorneys General of New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, the District of Columbia, the City of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boulder, South Miami and Broward County (FL) have all joined the coalition.

Lebanon Fire and EMS October Calls Report.

Lebanon Fire EMS

 

 

 

OCTOBER CALLS

EMS Calls
Abdominal Pain / Problems 1
Chest Pain (Non-Traumatic) 3
Convulsions / Seizures 2
Diabetic Problems 1
Falls 5
Headache 1
Heart Problems / A.I.C.D. 1
Hemorrhage / Lacerations 2
Overdose / Poisoning (Ingestion) 1
Psychiatric / Abnormal Behavior / Suicide Attempt 1
Sick Person 4
Stroke (CVA) / Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) 1
Traffic / Transportation Incident 5
Traumatic Injury 1
Unconscious / Fainting (Near) 1
Assault / Sexual Assault 1
Back Pain (Non-Traumatic/Non-Recent Trauma) 1
Breathing Problems 3
Patient Assist / Lifting Assist 1
Stand By (Fire, Law, etc) 1

Total 37

FIRE CALLS
         MVA  .........5                                                                                                                                                           5
Public Assist ........ 1
Structure Fires.......... 1
Wires Down......... 1    
Mutual Aid..........1
Fire Alarm......... 1 

        Total......10                                                                                   

National Weather Service Winter Weather Awareness Week......including information on terms used to describe winter storms!!!

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
1142 AM EST TUE NOV 03 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES THAT SERVE NEW ENGLAND HAVE
DECLARED THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2ND THROUGH 6TH, WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS
WEEK. IN CONJUNCTION WITH WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK, THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN GRAY WILL BE ISSUING PUBLIC INFORMATION
STATEMENTS CONCERNING MANY ASPECTS OF WINTER WEATHER AND WINTER
WEATHER PREPAREDNESS. THIS IS THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF FIVE PUBLIC
INFORMATION STATEMENTS TO BE ISSUED THIS WEEK.

...WATCH...WARNING...AND ADVISORY CRITERIA FOR WINTER STORMS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES WATCHES, WARNINGS, AND ADVISORIES
TO ALERT THE PUBLIC TO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER EVENTS OR
SITUATIONS. WHILE THE EXACT CRITERIA USED TO TRIGGER THESE WATCHES,
WARNINGS, AND ADVISORIES VARIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, THE
FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE USED IN MAINE AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. NOTE THAT A
WATCH IS ISSUED TO ALERT THE PUBLIC THAT DANGEROUS WINTER CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCHED AREA, GENERALLY WITHIN THE NEXT 24 TO
72 HOURS. A WARNING IS ISSUED TO ALERT THE PUBLIC THAT DANGEROUS
WINTER CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN THE WARNED AREA, GENERALLY
WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 36 HOURS, OR ARE OCCURRING. AN ADVISORY IS ISSUED
TO ALERT THE PUBLIC THAT WINTER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE A
SIGNIFICANT INCONVENIENCE AND MAY BE HAZARDOUS. IF CAUTION IS
EXERCISED THOUGH, THESE SITUATIONS SHOULD NOT BE LIFE THREATENING.

THE FOLLOWING WINTER STORM CRITERIA WILL BE USED FOR ALL OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND WESTERN AND SOUTHERN MAINE:

BLIZZARD WARNING

SNOW AND/OR BLOWING SNOW WILL COMBINE WITH STRONG WINDS TO
PRODUCE NEAR-ZERO VISIBILITY. DEEP DRIFTS AND DANGEROUS
WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES OFTEN ACCOMPANY THESE CONDITIONS.
THE EXACT CRITERIA USED FOR THESE WARNINGS INCLUDE THE
FOLLOWING CONDITIONS WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST FOR 3
HOURS OR MORE.

SUSTAINED WINDS OR FREQUENT GUSTS TO 35 MPH OR MORE...AND
FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO 1/4
MILE OR LESS FOR 3 OR MORE HOURS.

WINTER STORM WARNING

AN AVERAGE OF 6 INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW/SLEET IS
EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY

AN AVERAGE OF AT LEAST 4 (BUT LESS THAN 6) INCHES OF
SNOW/SLEET IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA. WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORIES CAN ALSO BE ISSUED FOR MIXED PRECIPITATION
EVENTS OR FOR BLOWING SNOW.

ICE STORM WARNING

FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE A GLAZE OF ICE
1/2 INCH OR THICKER.

FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY

FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE A GLAZE OF ICE ON
ROADS AND SIDEWALKS, BUT LESS THAN 1/2 INCH IS EXPECTED.

WHILE THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOES NOT ISSUE WARNINGS OR
ADVISORIES FOR STORMS THAT PRODUCE LESS THAN AN AVERAGE OF 4 INCHES
OF SNOWFALL...THESE STORMS CAN BE DECEPTIVELY DANGEROUS TO MOTORISTS.
IN TERMS OF THE DEATHS THAT ARE LINKED TO THE SNOW STORMS...THE MAJORITY
ARE AS A RESULT OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS...AND MANY OF THOSE ACCIDENTS
OCCUR WITH ONLY SMALL ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW. SLOW DOWN AS SOON AS SNOW
BEGINS TO ACCUMULATE. IN ICE OR SNOW - TAKE IT SLOW!

PREPAREDNESS TIP FOR THE DAY:

HEAVY WET SNOW OR A SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATION...ESPECIALLY WHEN
COMBINED WITH WIND...CAN CAUSE TREES OR TREE LIMBS TO FALL ONTO POWER
LINES. IF YOU SEE THESE CONDITIONS BEGINNING TO DEVELOP IN YOUR
AREA...PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A POWER OUTAGE.
PARTICULARLY IF YOU DEPEND ON A WELL FOR WATER, STORE AN AMPLE SUPPLY
OF WATER FOR BOTH DRINKING AND SANITARY NEEDS TO LAST FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

DOES A BLIZZARD WARNING MEAN THAT THERE WILL BE MORE SNOW THAN A WINTER
STORM WARNING?

ANSWER:NOT NECESSARILY. BLIZZARD WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR
SITUATIONS WHERE THE COMBINATION OF SNOW AND/OR BLOWING
SNOW...AND WIND WILL CAUSED REDUCED VISIBILITIES (1/4 MILE
OR LESS) FOR 3 HOURS OR LONGER. THIS COMBINATION CREATES
EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. WHILE NO MINIMUM AMOUNT OF
SNOWFALL IS REQUIRED FOR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS, HEAVY SNOW,
NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY, DEEP DRIFTS, AND DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS
ARE OFTEN A PART OF THESE HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS.