Should you provide leave for victims of domestic violence?

A visibly shaken employee is in your office. In a voice that is barely audible, she tells you that she was beaten last night by her live-in partner. You see the evidence of the assault on her face.What is your company's responsibility to this employee?

In a growing number of states, legislation has been enacted providing leave for victims of domestic violence. The time off allows the individual to seek out safe housing, legal help, medical treatment or counseling, and to see to the safety of any children involved. There are also laws that prevent your health insurance carrier from discriminating in the cost of treatment on the basis that an individual is the victim of domestic violence. Be sure to check State Laws for the law that applies in your state(s).

Federal law. OSHA's general duty clause mandates that employers provide a safe work environment for their employees. As such, your organization should do what it can to ensure that employees who have protective orders make it known to your security and reception people who is prohibited from being in proximity to the protected individual and what to do if the abuser comes around. Have a workplace policy for dealing with the needs of victims of domestic violence and with abusers who are prohibited by court order from being in the vicinity of a victim. Make sure that those whose job it may be to turn away a named abuser or warn a victim know how to handle the job and when to turn to law enforcement officials for help.

Reprinted with permission. © CCH