Family & Domestic Violence Leave Now Applies

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Modern awards have been varied to include 5 days unpaid family and domestic violence leave each year.

All employees (including casual workers) are entitled to this leave if they are covered by an industry or occupation based award. It begins from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2018.

Family and domestic violence is defined as violent, threatening or other abusive behaviour by an employee’s family member that:

  • Seeks to coerce or control the employee
  • Causes them harm or fear

The new leave provides employees with time to deal with issues resulting from family and domestic violence that are impractical to deal with outside of their ordinary hours of work. These include (but are not limited to) taking time to:

  • Make arrangements for their personal safety or the safety of a family member
  • Attend court hearings
  • Access police services

For general information on the new family and domestic violence leave and/or who it applies to, visit www.fairwork.gov.au.

If you would like specific information on what you need to do, contact End2End Business Solutions – your outsourced HR department on 02 8977 4002.


If you have an employee, family member or friend who is dealing with family and domestic violence, suggest they contact www.1800respect.org.au for confidential information, counselling and support.