"What happens at home affects what happens at work"

Posted on: 26/07/2018
2 minutes to read

Since 2011 the PSA's been campaigning for special leave for family violence victims - it's now law.

Green MP Jan Logie and former PSA President Paula Scholes

New Zealand can rightly claim a world first in legislating for victims of family violence to get special leave from work through the Domestic Violence - Victims' Protection Bill - and it's yet another example of what happens when unions, government and civil society groups work together.

Green MP Jan Logie's Domestic Violence Victims’ Protection Act will come into effect from April next year.

The new Act provides up to 10 days’ paid leave for people who are experiencing family violence, plus easier access to flexible working and stronger anti-discrimination measures.

"We are overjoyed to see New Zealand leading the way on this issue, which is of critical importance to our members and to the wider world of work," PSA National Secretary Erin Polaczuk says.

"People experiencing family violence often rely on work to provide stability and maintain financial independence - but moving house, attending court and keeping their families safe can make it hard to hold down a job.

"What happens at home affects what happens in the workplace, and this law recognises that."

An event was held at the Green Party's offices after the third reading, celebrating the combined effort it took to get the Bill over the line.

Jan Logie told the crowd the success was due to "the exceptional efforts of unions plus communities plus business, all saying we can do this differently and that we’re all better off when we look after each other".

She went on: "This shouldn’t be a lottery where only the people working for those great employers who get it win. Today we have collectively stood for that never, never happening again”.

The PSA has created special resources for victims, colleagues and workplaces on family violence.

You can find more resources at the It's Not OK website.