Right to domestic violence leave comes into effect today 

Domestic violence is a sensitive topic, and survivors may not be able to 'book' leave in advance, so employers are being offered free training and support to ensure they fulfil their new obligations. Picture: iStock

Workers who experience domestic violence will be able to legally take up to five days leave, with full pay, from today, Monday. 

Section 7 of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 introduces five days paid domestic violence leave in a 12-month period.

No prior notice needs to be given and can be taken where the employee is the victim of domestic violence — including coercive control — or where they are supporting their spouse, partner, or child who is the victim, according to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth.

Minister Roderic O’Gorman said: “No one experiencing domestic violence should have to risk poverty or unemployment in order to seek support. From today, all employees will be entitled to five days leave on full pay so that they can access the supports they may need.

“This will make Ireland one of the first countries in the EU to introduce this right.

“Domestic violence leave is not just about the leave. It can start conversations in workplaces and society around domestic violence and raise awareness.

Employers have a crucial role to play. I would encourage them to use the supports which have been developed to create a safe space for employees experiencing domestic violence. 

Women's Aid was commissioned to develop supports for employers to implement the leave, the department said.

A dedicated website — www.DVatWork.ie — has been set up, while the organisation will host a series of webinars to provide advice and information on domestic violence policies.

Deirdre Malone, partner and head of employment law at EY Law Ireland, described the statutory leave as “a great step forward in supporting employees impacted”.

She said: “From Monday, employees impacted by domestic violence — or if specific people connected to them are impacted by domestic violence — will be able to take up to five days paid domestic violence leave annually, to access certain supports.

EY head of employment law Deirdre Malone: '[I]t will be really important for employers to sensitively manage requests for domestic violence leave.'

“All employers will be required by law to offer this leave and employees must be paid in full for any domestic violence leave taken.

“There is no minimum service requirement to qualify.”

Employers must familiarise themselves with the legislation, Ms Malone warned. 

"Employees will not always be able to ask for this leave in advance, and it may be challenging for employees to discuss domestic violence with their employer, so it will be really important for employers to sensitively manage requests for domestic violence leave," she said.  

“The Government has worked in partnership with Women’s Aid to develop policies, free training, and support materials for employers to properly introduce domestic violence policies. We would encourage all employers to make use of the resources that can be accessed at www.DVatWork.ie.”

More women than ever before are reaching out for help from its frontline services, Women’s Aid said earlier this year.

Its annual impact report for 2022 showed more than 31,000 contacts with its National Freephone Helpline and Regional Face-to-Face services, a 16% increase on last year and the highest ever recorded.

During these contacts, 33,990 disclosures of domestic abuse were made, including 5,412 reports of abuse of children, Women’s Aid said.

• Visit www.DVatWork.ie to learn more.