Family violence leave

Family violence is also known as domestic violence. It means all forms of violence in family and intimate relationships. Family violence can be physical, sexual or psychological abuse.

Rights for employees

Employees affected by family violence the right to:

• take up to 10 days of paid family violence leave (employers can give more than the 10 days required by law). This is separate from annual leave, sick leave and bereavement leave. See Family violence leave rights and responsibilities.

• ask for short-term flexible working arrangements. This can be for up to 2 months. See Short-term flexible working.

• not be treated adversely in the workplace because they might have experienced family violence. This is discrimination. See Resolving problems with family violence rights.

It does not matter when the family violence took place. Employees still have these rights if they experienced family violence before they began working for their current employer or before the law changed on 1 April 2019.

Who can get family violence leave

Employees who have been affected by family violence can take paid family violence leave if:

• they have six months’ current continuous employment with the same employer, or
• they have worked for the employer for six months for:
  • an average of 10 hours per week, and
  • at least one hour in every week or 40 hours in every month.