New laws to provide 10 days’ paid family and domestic violence (FDV) leave came into force on 1 February for workers in businesses with 15 or more employees.
For workers in small businesses, with fewer than 15 employees, the entitlement will start from 1 August this year.
Under the new laws:
- all workers – full time, part time and casual – will have access to 10 days’ FDV leave, regardless of whether they work a 38-hour week or fewer hours
- the full 10-days is available immediately when a worker needs it, rather than accumulating over a period like annual and sick leave does
- there are rules in place to keep workers’ information private including that FDV leave must not be included on an employee’s pay slip
- full-time and part-time employees can take paid FDV leave at their full pay rate for the hours they would have worked if they weren’t on leave, while casual employees will be paid at their full pay rate for the hours they were rostered to work in the period they took leave.
Workers in small businesses continue to have access to five days of unpaid FDV leave until their inclusion in the paid scheme from 1 August.
ACTU President Michele O’Neil said: “Paid family and domestic violence leave builds on the long legacy of the union movement winning new rights for workers.”
‘Paid family and domestic violence leave builds on the long legacy of the union movement winning new rights for workers.’
– ACTU President Michele O’Neil