Fierce Fight for Domestic Violence Leave
Australian employees are already protected in their employment
if they are experiencing domestic violence. This is because the
Fair Work Act 2010 makes it unlawful to terminate or
otherwise adversely change an employee's working conditions due
to the fact that they are experiencing domestic violence.
Prior to such protections some employers preferred to avoid the
dangers of domestic violence becoming violence in the workplace and
regretfully informed their employees that the risk of harm to other
employees, or the reputation of the business was too great to
continue to allow a victim of domestic violence to be at work.
This reform to protect the employment of victims was necessary,
and reflects Australia's general commitment to ending the shame
and silence that surrounds domestic violence so that victims are
publicly supported and better equipped to seek safety from a
private terror.
