An employee who has been working for at least three months can take time off work if they or their child has experienced domestic violence.

The leave can be taken for:

• seeking medical attention,

• getting counselling,

• relocating, or

• getting legal help related to domestic violence.

The employee can take

• up to 10 days off in a year for this reason, and

• up to 16 weeks off in a row.

If the employee takes part of a day off, the employer can count it as one day of leave, but must still pay the employee for the time worked.

The employee must tell the employer in writing when they plan to take the leave and when they plan to return.

• They should try to schedule appointments for non-working hours but can end the leave early with notice.

The employer may ask the employee to provide information about why they are taking the leave and may require evidence to support the employee's entitlement to the leave, as set out in the regulations.

In case of a conflict, the information provided by the employer concerning the length of the leave prevails over the employee's anticipated length of the leave.

NS LSC s.60Z