Learn about domestic or sexual violence leave

To get domestic or sexual violence leave, you must have worked for your employer for at least 13 weeks in a row.

You may be able to take the leave if you or your child who's younger than 18 has:

• experienced domestic or sexual violence
• been threatened with domestic or sexual violence

Your child includes a stepchild, foster child, and a child you're the legal guardian of.

Length of the leave

There are 2 lengths of domestic or sexual violence leave you may be able to take each calendar year. One lets you take one or more days off at a time. And the other lets you take time off in periods of weeks.

This means that you may be able to take:

• up to 10 days, and
• up to 15 weeks.

Reasons for domestic or sexual violence leave

These are the only reasons why you can take domestic or sexual violence leave:

• to get medical care because of an injury or disability caused by the violence
• to get help from a victim services organization
• to get professional counselling
• to move, even for a short time
• to deal with the police or the legal system because of the violence

Getting paid

The Employment Standards Act says that you have the right to be paid for the first 5 days of domestic or sexual violence leave each year.