NDP Women’s Issues critic MPP Peggy Sattler, has reintroduced her Private Member’s Bill to provide survivors of sexual violence or domestic violence with up to 10 days of paid leave, and reasonable unpaid leave.
The bill also allows for workplace accommodations and requires all employers to provide mandatory workplace training on domestic and sexual violence.
"The need for paid leave for survivors of domestic violence was raised repeatedly by groups and individuals during hearings of the Select Committee on Sexual Violence and Harassment and public input on Bill 132," says Sattler. "The issue was also highlighted in submissions made to the Changing Workplaces Review and is referenced in the Special Advisors’ Interim Report, which identifies paid domestic violence/sexual violence leave as one of the options that must be considered.
The bill would entitle survivors to up to 10 days of paid leave to obtain specific services related to the violence:
- Seeking medical attention
- Obtaining support from a victim services organization, women’s shelter, rape crisis centre, sexual assault centre, or other community agency
- Accessing psychological or other professional counseling
- Arranging temporary or permanent relocation
- Dealing with legal or law enforcement matters or participating in civil or criminal proceedings.
The bill received unanimous support when it passed second reading on March 10, 2016, and has secured widespread endorsement.
Barb MacQuarrie from the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children worked with the Canadian Labour Congress on a national study in 2014 that showed the need for the legislation. “Economic security is often the primary factor that influences a survivor’s decision to leave an abuser and/or to not return to an abusive situation,” she said. “Giving workers access to paid leave can help them to maintain their employment while they deal with situations of abuse.”
