Did you know that employees will soon be able to access 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave each year? As a result, we’re adding a new default leave category in Wageloch to make it easier for both you and your staff to manage. Here’s everything you need to know:

What is the new leave entitlement?

Until now, employees could access five unpaid days of family and domestic violence leave.

From 1 February 2023, employees of workplaces with 15 or more staff members will be entitled to 10 days’ paid family and domestic violence leave in a 12-month period.

From 1 August 2023, employees of small businesses (that is, with fewer than 15 staff members) will be able to access it.

The changes have been legislated in the Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Act 2022.

Who can apply for paid family and domestic violence leave?

Casual, part-time and full-time employees can access the leave up front, and it won’t be pro-rated. That means they can receive the full 10 days’ leave without having to accumulate it.

The leave renews every year on each employee’s work anniversary. If it isn’t used, it can’t be accumulated and carried over from year to year.

When taking the paid leave, your part-time and full-time employees will be paid for the hours they would have worked, while casuals will be paid for the hours they were rostered to work in that period.

Why might employees need to take the leave?

Staff may need to take the paid family and domestic violence leave to manage something that can’t be dealt with during work hours. This might include:

• attending court hearings
• accessing police services
• arranging to relocate for their safety
• attending appointments such as counselling, medical, financial or legal services

What happens if we don’t comply?

As with all employee entitlements, it’s very important to comply with the family and domestic violence provisions. Otherwise, your business could face serious penalties. To ensure you comply with the new laws, you can:

• Educate your managers on the new laws and how to manage leave applications.
• Let your staff know about the changes (you can find out more on the Fair Work website).
• Switch to Wageloch for an easy way to confidentially apply for, approve and track leave.

Book a demo with our team today to see how we can help your business comply with the new paid family and domestic violence leave.