Victims to get paid time off

Domestic violence: New allowance

WELLINGTON: Parliament last night passed a law that allows victims of domestic violence to take up to 10 days’ paid leave from work each year.

The Domestic Violence-Victims Protection Bill passed without the support of National, which said it was yet another cost being passed on to small businesses.

Act New Zealand also voted against the Bill but it passed with the support of Labour and New Zealand First, by 63 votes to 57.

The Bill requires employers to have policies in place for dealing with the effects of domestic violence on employees.

Green MP Jan Logie introduced the Bill in 2016. It is expected to take effect on April 1 next year.

Ms Logie told Parliament yesterday the Bill was a commitment to early intervention and prevention of domestic violence.

‘‘We heard from advocates, court staff and survivors that the existing leave provisions just aren’t enough for victims to deal with the courts, find a new house, go to counselling or support their children dealing with trauma.

‘‘The need for improved flexible working arrangements, additional leave and protection from discrimination is well established,’’ Ms Logie said.

Several businesses, including The Warehouse, ANZ and Countdown, already have domestic violence policies in place.

She reassured employers that the leave applied only to victims and people caring for child victims.

The Bill entitled victims to up to 10 days’ leave a year and experience showed that most victims did not take the 10 days.

Research had shown the initial cost of implementing the policies was less than the annual wage increase in a bad year and rapidly offset by returns from lower turnover and increased productivity, Ms Logie said.

‘‘This Bill is a win for victims, a win for business and ultimately a win for all of us.’’

Research by Women’s Refuge had found that 60% of New Zealand women who had been in a violent relationship were in fulltime work before the relationship, but less than half managed to stay in it.

National reversed its position on the Bill after supporting it at first reading.

National justice spokesman Mark Mitchell said the Bill would not prevent a single attack against women and could result in employers filtering potential employees for those who may become victims of domestic violence.

‘‘If the Government really believes in this Bill, if they really believe in what they’re doing, then fund it.

‘‘Don’t pass the costs on to small and mediumsized businesses because they cannot bear the cost of this,’’ he told media.

Domestic violence charity Shine said domestic violence was already costing businesses, ‘‘not just financially but more importantly the human toll’’.

‘‘Businesses without a domestic violence programme are not playing their part to stop domestic violence, and there’s also a cost in lost productivity and additional staff recruitment,’’ Shine spokeswoman Holly Carrington said.

A Colmar Brunton Better Futures report showed almost 90% of New Zealanders worried that not enough was being done to keep New Zealand safe and healthy.

‘‘Mark Mitchell and his party are out of step with how many New Zealanders, including the business community, feel about this issue,’’ Ms Carrington said in a statement. — NZME