The push to introduce domestic violence leave in Australian workplaces has been met with fierce debate.
While more than half of major private sector employers have introduced domestic violence leave in the past year, Australia’s Fair Work Act does not presently provide workers with a right to this type of leave.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is hoping to change this with a submission to the Fair Work Commission, calling for 10 days of paid domestic violence leave, and an additional two days of unpaid leave, in all modern awards.
But powerful voices like those of Minister for Women Michaelia Cash and columnist Miranda Devine are largely critical of the concept.
Cash has previously said domestic violence leave would mean fewer jobs for women, and more barriers to their employment, while Devine caused waves when she suggested the ‘divvie’ has the potential to become the new ‘sickie’.
How does DV leave stop DV, exactly?If anything it encourages it, or at least false reports. “Divvie” the new “sickie”. Another union rort https://t.co/y9mrdu26Ks
— Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) November 16, 2016
Top Comments
So what happens when after ten years of needing extra domestic violence leave each year you continue to need it? Sorry, but I work in the Court system and I would meet three women a day on average who come along to Court and say "I made it all up, it didn't happen, I won't give evidence against him." And then there's the women who have an intervention order but let him back in breach of the order? Like I have said previously (and been howled down), if the victim's stood up and went through with a complaint properly they would most likely only be in a situation that their boss needed to be accommodating to only once.
Where is the crap idea that leave entitlements in general are being "abused" coming from? Australians work more unpaid overtime than any country in the world! Another line from employers who are more concerned about $$ than humanity!
You've seriously never worked with anyone that abuses their sick leave?
Oh spare me. Australian workers average 12 unscheduled leave days a year. Yep, it is all legit. Sure.
Working overtime and rorting leave entitlements are not even remotely related.
Nope. I manage a cinema for two years of over 50 staff and this was never an issue though my area manager always seemed convinced that everyone who was ever sick was faking.