What is Crime Victim’s Leave?
- On 2 October 2017
- Posted by Chantal Mariotti
The Crime Victim’s Leave law states that, if any of your employees are the victim of serious crimes, you are required to offer them time off without pay. Employees who fall victim to serious crimes are entitled to take time off of work without pay, as regulated by the Crime Victim’s Leave law. Employers cannot discriminate against their employees and must adhere by this law by providing sufficient time off, so employees can attend judicial proceedings.
It’s the law – the Crime Victim’s Leave law applies to all employers, regardless of size. All employers are required to comply with this law and any employee who is a victim of a crime is qualified for time off without pay. Employees are eligible if they are themselves the victim of a crime; or if the victim is an immediate family member, a registered domestic partner, or a child of a registered domestic partner.
Your biggest concern should be your employees’ safety and well-being. Your employees are crucial to the success and growth of your business. Show your employees you care about their well-being and incorporate this leave of absence in your Employee Handbook; let your employees know how much you care about them. Enhance employee relations in your workplace; increase loyalty and productivity.
Make sure you have the appropriate documentation – an HR Best Practice. If your employee is a crime victim, they can take a leave of absence from work by providing you with a copy of the notice of their scheduled proceedings. These notices are provided to the victim by the courts, the prosecuting offices, or the victim advocate office.
We make sure you handle these difficult situations in a manner that protects your employees and your company. Falling victim to a crime can be difficult for your employees and potentially affect their productivity at work. We know how to increase employee relations and help both you and your employees approach these types of situations. We also fully understand employment laws and can help you and your company avoid potential litigations by helping you comply with specific rules and policies.