As of 1 April 2019, The Domestic Violence – Victims Protection Bill will impose new obligations on employers under the Holidays Act 2003, Employment Relations Act 2000, Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the Human Rights Act 1993.
Application to the Holidays Act 2003 - What do employers need to prepare for?
As of 1 April 2019, employers will be required to pay up to 10 days per year of paid domestic violence leave. Employees will be able to take this leave as needed in order to deal with the effects of domestic violence – similar to the existing sick and bereavement leave provisions.
After six months of continuous employment an employee may take domestic violence leave if the employee is a person affected by domestic violence. This is regardless of how long ago the domestic violence occurred, and even if it occurred before the person became an employee.
What is domestic violence?
It can be physical, sexual or psychological abuse against a person which includes a pattern of behaviour, for example, to isolate one from family members or friends.
It may be coercive or controlling or it may cause the person cumulative harm.
A person affected by domestic violence means a person against whom any other person is inflicting, or has inflicted, domestic violence or is a child who resides with the employee whom any other person is inflicting, or has inflicted, domestic violence.
If you need more information on the implication this may have on you as an employer then get in touch with our Employment team.
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