Paid family violence leave: How to support workers who face domestic abuse

The government of Victoria is asking the Fair Work Commission to extend the paid leave coverage of public sector workers who encounter violence at home. 

The request is now being reviewed by the FWC.

State officials are calling for the paid family violence leave to be expanded to 10 days to give survivors an economic and social safety net while they seek refuge and support against domestic violence.

Data from the Victorian government indicated that some 64 staff members last year availed of the benefit for up to eight days, on average, after circumstances forced them to pull away from work to attend to personal and family needs.

All workers, whether working on a full-time or part-time basis, tenured or casual, receive five days of unpaid leave per year should they require time off due to instances of domestic violence. Extending the coverage to 10 days of paid leave, however, will likely allow survivors to attend medical appointments and court hearings, find a safe place away from their aggressor, arrange for additional family care support, and coordinate with authorities, The Guardian noted.

Most workers who experience domestic abuse and seek help from their employers are women, often with the responsibility of caring for children and other family members. 

Disruptions to their work and personal lives can take a toll on their productivity and ability to be financially secure. 

"It's hard to quantify or even to see it, but it has profound impact over the long-term career of women and also in terms of gender equality overall," said Kate Seymour of Flinders University, who helped the FWC analyse previous workforce agreements, as quoted in The Guardian.