For Immediate Release
May 29th, 2017
St. John’s, NL
The St. John’s Status of Women Council implements Domestic Violence Leave Policy
The St. John’s Status of Women Council (SJSOWC) has created and implemented a Domestic Violence Leave Policy within their organization and encourages public, private business and community organizations to adopt a similar policy.
According to the Canadian Labour Congress report, Domestic Violence at Work, “Over 80 percent of domestic violence victims report that their work performance was negatively affected. Absenteeism and poor work performance can leave victims vulnerable to discipline, and some even lose their jobs.”
The SJSOWC is also working with the NL Federation of Labour to create change at a provincial level, advocating for Domestic Violence Leave Legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador which would provide paid leave for employees experiencing domestic violence through amendments to Labour and Employment standards legislation.
Jenny Wright, Executive Director of the St John’s Status of Women Council:
“I am very encouraged that we will have domestic violence legislation in our province soon. In the interim, community organizations and business can easily adopt their own in house policy to protect their employees who are experiencing or fleeing domestic violence. And, we are here to help.”
The SJSOWC Domestic Violence Leave Policy provides 3 days paid leave, for employees experiencing domestic violence which can be taken at once or in increments to attend to legal, health, housing and childcare needs.
Mary Shortall, President of the NL Federation of Labour and Chair of the SJSOWC:
“This is a very important issue for our members. Domestic Violence at work impacts workers and employers. While we work with our affiliates to address this issue at the bargaining table, we are also working closely with our partners in the broader community so that all workers can have the legislative protection they need when domestic violence comes to the workplace.”
Media contact:
Jenny Wright, Executive Director, St. John’s Status of Women Council
Mary Shortall, President, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour
The St. John’s Status of Women Council/Women’s Centre is a feminist organization that since 1972 is continually working to achieve equality and justice through political activism, community collaboration and the creation of a safe and inclusive space for all women in the St. John’s area.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour (NLFL) represents 25 affiliated unions, 500 union locals and 65,000 working women and men in every sector of our economy, in every community in our Province.
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