Sample Family & Domestic Violence Policy

The National Employment Standards (NES) contain an entitlement to 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave. The paid entitlement replaced the previous entitlement to 5 days of unpaid family and domestic violence leave, and commenced from 1 February 2023 for employers that are not small business employers. For small business employers (employers with less than 15 employees), the paid leave entitlement will commence from 1 August 2023. Many employers are now moving to create formal policies and practices addressing the support needs of employees suffering from family and domestic violence and the workplace health and safety implications for the employee and broader workplace. This sample policy is designed to both inform and educate the workplace about the issues but also to provide guidance for an employer experiencing issues arising from family and domestic violence in the workplace both at an individual and workplace level. It also provides for counselling and disciplinary action in circumstances in which family and domestic violence is being perpetuated within the workplace or an employee is using company time and resources to perpetuate family and domestic violence outside of the workplace.