Abuse-related leave called for

Phil O'Reilly

A new bill giving domestic-violence victims 10 days off work annually on abuse-related leave would be valuable to abused women - provided they weren't too ashamed to tell their bosses, Rotorua Women's Refuge says.

Green Party women's spokeswoman Jan Logie last week launched The Domestic Violence - Victims' Protection Bill alongside research showing domestic violence costs Kiwi businesses $368million a year in lost productivity. The bill would introduce workplace protections for abuse victims to help reduce that cost.

"Victims of domestic violence often lose their jobs because they may not be able to focus on their work, are unable to show up to work, or are stalked by their abusers while at work," Ms Logie said.

According to Women's Refuge, one in three Kiwi women are victims of domestic violence.

The new bill would give victims flexibility in their working arrangements, protect them from workplace discrimination, and grant sufferers up to 10 days' leave.

A Waiariki Women's Refuge worker said domestic violence had a significant impact on victims' employment.

Refuge workers usually advised victims to take a week off work following violence, so the 10 extra days' leave would be "very valuable".

"They need time off work ... some of them have been bruised and are needing medical attention." However, many women would still be too embarrassed to tell their bosses what was really going on, she said. "A lot of the barriers are the women themselves who are too shy to tell their bosses, but we have encouraged them to do that because [employers] can be very sympathetic."

But Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly said domestic violence required a "societal response" rather than a workplace solution.

"[Domestic violence] is only one of a number of these things that happen domestically or in society that have an impact on the workplace, so it's not unique in that sense."

Flexible work arrangements for domestic violence victims were already "pretty much covered" by existing law and most employers were supportive, Mr O'Reilly said.