By Paul Tuthill
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Boston, MA – Lawmakers in Massachusetts have taken a step to provide employment protection to victims of domestic violence. A bill working its way through the legislature would guarantee domestic violence victims leave from their jobs. WAMC"s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.
The proposed law would require employers in Massachusetts, with more than 50 employees to give up to 15 days of leave in any 12 month period to someone who has been a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. Immediate family members of victims would be eligible for the same leave.
Advocates for domestic violence victims have been working for at least a decade to try to get some form of employment protection in Massachusetts.. Karen Cavanaugh, the executive director of Womanshelter/Companeras in Holyoke says victims of domestic violence need to know their jobs are secure so they can leave their abusers.
Cavanaugh said by guaranteeing domestic violence victims time off so they can find a new place to live, receive medical treatment, or go to court, the law would provide a measure of economic security.
The bill was passed unanimously last week by the Massachusetts State Senate and now awaits action in the house.
Cavanaugh praised two of the state's larger employer groups, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts and Associated Industries of Massachusetts for their support. John Regan, executive vice president for government affairs at Associated Industries worked with domestic violence victims advocates to address employer concerns.
The legislation includes the statutory definitions of domestic violence, so it is clear want specific incidents would trigger the employment leave requirement. There is also a requirement that employees notify their bosses within 5 days on the incident in order to preserve their rights to the leave. And within 30 days written proof, in the form of a police report, or court restraining order needs to be given to employers. The bill does not mandate that the time off be paid. Employers could also require that vacation time , sick days, and personal days be used first.
State Senator Gale Candaras of Wilbraham helped write the bill.
There are no statistics or Massachusetts specific studies on job losses related to domestic violence, but Maureen Gallagher, policy director at Jane Doe Inc, said national studies show a high percentage of people who have experienced domestic violence have missed days of work. She said as of 2010, 15 states had laws on the books to provide employment protection to domestic violence victims, similar to what's contemplated in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Senate approved a bill last year to guarantee time off from work to victims of domestic violence, but it did not emerge from a committee in the House.