Will employers have to provide paid leave to staff who are victims of domestic abuse?

Earlier this week Labour MP Alex McIntyre introduced a Private Members Bill in the House of Commons to support the victims of domestic abuse. If it becomes law, victims will be entitled to up to two weeks paid leave from their jobs. 

The scale of the problem

During the debate, McIntyre highlighted the alarming statistics surrounding domestic abuse in the UK. Around 2.1 million people have experienced some form of domestic abuse, with women being the majority of victims. However, McIntyre emphasized that this doesn't just effect women and 750,000 men have also suffered from domestic abuse, underscoring the widespread nature of the issue.

One of the most challenging aspects of leaving an abusive relationship is the financial burden. McIntyre cited figures from Women’s Aid’s report, “The Price of Safety” which estimates that it could cost a survivor nearly £50,000 to leave an abuser. The proposed bill aims to alleviate this burden by providing victims with a short window of paid leave, to attend court hearings, obtain medical treatment, and find new housing without worrying about losing their jobs.

The Bill is supported by local and national organizations, including the Hollie Gazzard Trust, FearFree, and the Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service. Women’s Aid, SafeLives, and Rights of Women.

Burden on employers

McIntyre acknowledged that this would impact employers. However, he argued that domestic abuse already costs businesses and the economy a significant amount of money. A 2019 study by KPMG shows that businesses in the UK lost £316 million a year due to work-related absences caused by domestic abuse. Additionally, Women’s Aid and ResPublica calculated that domestic abuse cost society £78 billion in 2022 alone. 

McIntyre argued that employers who offer a supportive work environments and include initiatives such as domestic abuse leave, can foster loyalty, improve employee retention, and create safer, happier, and healthier workplaces.

Global and local precedents

McIntyre pointed out that other regions, including Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the Philippines, have already implemented similar measures. 

Next steps

A second reading of the Bill will take place on 20 June 2025 and we expect a copy of the draft Bill to made public before that date. We don’t yet know if the government will support the Bill. If it doesn’t, it’s unlikely to progress beyond the second reading. We’ll keep you posted.

Our newsletters

We publish monthly employment and education newsletters. If you'd like to be added to the mailing list, please let me know.