Paid leave urged for victims of violence

Victims of domestic violence should have the option of taking up to 10 days of paid leave so they — and their children — can seek medical help or get counselling, find a place to live or deal with the police and courts, the Ontario government is being urged.

A private member’s bill proposed by the NDP is to “protect survivors,” said leader Andrea Horwath.

Her bill would not only provide paid time off, funded by the province, but also as many as 15 weeks of unpaid leave for those affected by sex assault or violence in the home, or whose kids have been victimized.

“We know for sure that one of the biggest barriers to leaving an abusive relationship is not having certainty around being able to pay the bills, to find another place to live with your kids and put a roof over their head and food on the table,” Horwath said in an interview with the Star. “It’s a chaotic situation, and they end up losing their pay, or portions of their pay — but in many cases they end up losing their job as well . . . that’s not acceptable in this day and age.”

Horwath said it’s time to “seize the moment” since the government is overhauling workplace legislation, but the Liberals have not committed to the 10 paid days off.

“The Liberals talk a good game but are very disappointing when it comes to putting actions in place that really make a difference in people’s lives,” said Horwath.

Taking time off can help women temporarily get away from a place where their abuser knows to find them, or make alternate work arrangements, added Horwath, recalling the case of Lori Dupont, a Windsor nurse who was harassed at the hospital and later killed at her workplace by her former partner.

Labour minister Kevin Flynn said the workplace Bill 148 proposes “a new job-protected leave of absence if an employee or their child experience domestic or sexual violence, or has been threatened with violence,” for up to15 weeks. However, whether the worker’s salary would continue during the initial 10 days has not yet been decided.