Changes to Employment Standards Act

Domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence leave

Effective November 1, 2019

Amendments to the Employment Standards Act took effect to provide an employee up to three days (3) with pay - and up to an additional seven days (7) without pay for an employee to deal with the consequences of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or sexual violence.

Application: An employee who has been employed for a continuous period of three months, or more, may access this type of leave. The employee may choose to take this leave intermittently or in one continuous period.

Regulations have been drafted which detail the purposes for which the leave may be taken. The regulations also provide details on the roles and responsibilities of employers and employees in using this leave. Regulations were published in the Royal Gazette, April 6, 2019 (page 74).