New Zealand Brings in Paid Domestic Violence Leave in World First

New Zealand's government on Wednesday passed world-first legislation granting victims of domestic violence 10 days paid leave so they can leave their partners, find new homes, and protect themselves and their children, reports The Guardian . The law is the result of Green MP Jan Logie's seven-year-long diligence. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the developed world, with family violence estimated to cost the country up to $7 billion annually. "Part of this initiative is getting a whole-of-society response," Logie said. "We don't just leave it to police but realize we all have a role in helping victims. It is also about changing the cultural norms and saying 'we all have a stake in this and it is not OK.'" The law is slated to go into effect in April 2019 and mandates that anyone experiencing domestic violence will be entitled to 10 days paid leave from work, in addition to standard holiday and sick leave entitlements. Victims are not required to provide proof of their circumstances, and also will be entitled to fast-tracked flexible work conditions to ensure their safety, such as changing their work location, changing their email address, and having contact details taken off the business' website. "A huge amount of research tells us a large number of abusive partners bring the violence into the workplace," Logie noted.