A Milestone for Workplace Support: Ireland Introduces Domestic Violence Leave

On Monday, 27th November, Ireland became one of the first countries in Europe to implement a right to paid leave for employees affected by domestic violence.  

The leave was part of the Work Life Balance Act, which I brought through the Oireachtas earlier this year. It means that any employee experiencing or at risk of domestic violence may now take up to five days of fully paid leave annually.

This leave is not exclusive to the victim alone; it extends to those supporting a spouse, partner, or child who is a victim of domestic violence. This holistic approach recognises the broader impact of these very difficult situations.

Domestic violence leave will help to ensure that no one experiencing domestic violence would have to risk poverty or unemployment in order to seek support.  

Recognising that this is a new form of leave, and can entail difficult conversations for both employers and employees, my Department commissioned Women’s Aid to develop draft policy templates for employers.

I encourage employers to help create a supportive environment and make use of the resources developed by Women's Aid. This includes a dedicated website, www.DVatWork.ie, and a series of webinars aimed at providing advice and information on implementing domestic violence policies.

The collaboration with Women's Aid ensures that employers have the necessary tools to navigate and integrate this new leave effectively.

The commencement of domestic violence leaves marks a significant milestone in Ireland's commitment to a supportive and compassionate work environment.

Our current Programme for Government recognises that “There is an epidemic of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence” Why? Because for Ireland to tackle domestic violence effectively, we needed an all of government approach.

That is why I have implemented paid leave for those at risk of domestic violence, why my colleague Minister Helen McEntee has passed tougher sentences for domestic violence, and it is why we now have a national strategy centred on zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender based violence in our communities.

My hope is that through the provision of practical measures, like domestic violence leave and increased refuge spaces, we will ensure that anyone at risk gets the support they need, while making progress towards that aim of zero tolerance.