Today, Legal Aid at Work announces the release of “The Need for Paid Safe Leave & Model Legislative Language.” This new resource is the first product of the Safe Leave Working Group, of which Legal Aid at Work is a proud member. The document provides key context for the importance of paid safe leave and includes model policy language for providing it, which can be used directly or adapted to appropriate policies.
The safe leave working group is made up of state, national, and tribal experts and advocates from across policy spaces, based on the principle that paid, protected leave from work is an essential tool for the safety, agency, and economic security of survivors of all types of violence, including gender-based violence and harassment, family and domestic violence, and sexual violence. The Center for American Progress and Futures Without Violence co-chair the working group.
While California is on the verge of potentially expanding workplace rights through Assemblymember Schiavo’s AB 2499, which expands safe leave rights to family members, workers across the nation need these protections. “We’re excited to be a part of this effort because access to time off is critical to allow survivors of violence to heal, recover, and ensure their and their family’s safety,” said Katherine Wutchiett, a senior staff attorney with Legal Aid at Work. “We hope this resource will guide policymakers, advocates, and stakeholders in improving policies for survivors by incorporating the model policy language.” AB 2499, which would allow family members of survivors to access safe leave, expand rights to safety accommodations to family members, and streamline the process through which workers assert their rights, has made it through the Assembly and Senate and is headed to the Governor’s desk.
About Legal Aid at Work:
Legal Aid at Workpartners with people to help them understand and assert their workplace rights. We also advocate for employment laws and systems that empower low-paid workers and marginalized communities.