Australia`s workplace is set to usher in a new shift that will affect millions of workers from Aug. 1.
From August 1, 2018 or after the first full wage period, many workers will be able to apply for unpaid domestic violence leave.
The new leave right is proposed following the recent decision of the Fair work Commission and applies to industries covered by industry or occupational pay systems, including temporary workers.
According to the Commission`s website, it will update all industry and career pay systems to include a new clause that allows employees to take new forms of leave.
Workers are entitled to 5 days of new unpaid leave every year.
According to the Committee`s definition, "domestic violence refers to violence, threats or other ill-treatment by family members of an employee who attempt to compel or control an employee or cause them harm or fear".
Family members may include: spouse or ex-spouse, de facto spouse or de facto partner, child, parent, grandparents, grandchild, sibling, current or former spouse or de facto partner of an employee, parents, grandparents, A person associated with an employee under Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander kinship rules.
The committee said the new leave option would be used to help employees who face domestic violence but feel "impractical to do it outside their normal work".
However, it does not apply to workers covered by enterprise pay agreements, state public sector pay systems, business and other registration agreements or unpaid labor systems or agreements.
However, in these cases, some of these employees are still entitled to the paid or unpaid leave provided for in their pay system.
Alternatively, employers may have established workplace rules that allow them to take domestic violence leave.
Hackenberg (Nicholas Hackenberg), a senior employment consultant at Employsure, a professional firm, said employers must remind employees that they can assume that the information they receive is confidential and that employers cannot assume that men will not be subjected to domestic violence.
He says employees don`t have to get a domestic violence injunction (AVO). Before applying for leave.
Employers should take all applications for the new leave seriously, Mr. Harkenberg said, but they may not initially think employees are telling the truth.
For workers in need of further help, he said, they "can seek external support to ensure that they get their rights."
The government will submit draft legislation at the next Congress meeting to ensure that all workers covered by the Fair work Act receive five days of domestic violence leave a year.
This will extend the coverage to an additional 6 million workers, who cannot be guaranteed immediately from Aug. 1.
For further confidential information, consultation and support, please contact 1800 RESPECT.
