Millions of Australians to get 10 days’ domestic violence leave
Millions of Australian workers will soon be able to access up to 10 days’ paid domestic violence after a landmark Fair Work decision.
Millions of Australians will soon be able to access up to 10 days’ paid domestic violence leave after a historic Fair Work ruling.
The decision is set to impact more than 2.6 million workers employed under modern awards who will be able to access the full package each year at their base rate of pay.
Other workers, not covered by the award, are entitled to five days of unpaid family and domestic violence leave.
The Fair Work Commission said domestic and family violence is a “gendered phenomenon” which has worsened throughout the pandemic.
“Family and domestic violence is a ubiquitous and persistent social problem. While men can, and do, experience FDV, such violence disproportionately affects women,” the decision read.
“We have concluded that the merits strongly favour a paid FDV leave entitlement.”
Domestic and family violence costs Australian employers $2 billion annually, the Commission revealed.
“In comparison to women with no experience of [family and domestic violence], women experiencing or who have experienced FDV have a more disrupted work history; are on lower personal incomes; have had to change jobs frequently; and are more likely to be employed on a casual and part-time basis,” Fair Work wrote.
One in six women and one in 16 men in Australia, have experienced violence by an intimate partner since the age of 15, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Eighteen women and 18 children have died from domestic and family violence so far in 2022.