Dive Brief:
- New York City passed a bill Tuesday that provides leave to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, reports the New York Daily News.
- The bill, which expands the city’s current sick-leave legislation, allows workers five days off. If Mayor Bill de Blasio signs the bill, as he is expected to do, workers will be able to use those days for court appearances, meetings with law enforcement, serving an order of protection, counseling, or moving to get away from an abuser, according to the Daily News.
- The bill will take effect 180 days after signing, according to law firm Jackson Lewis.
Dive Insight:
New York City is poised to join several other states and cities in providing leave to victims of domestic violence. And among those that don't require leave, some prohibit employers from discriminating against individuals based on their status as victims.
But even employers in states without such laws may have responsibilities to victims. In the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Questions and Answers: The Application of Title VII and the ADA to Applicants or Employees Who Experience Domestic or Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking, the government offers examples of how other federal nondiscrimiation laws may apply to employment situations involving applicants and employees who experience domestic or dating violence, sexual assault or stalking.
Moreover, recent reports show that when employers exercise empathy, they see benefits in both engagement and retention.