Do You Offer Safe Leave?

Most employers provide sick leave for their employees, often available for caring for ill family members in addition to the employee. Some employers also offer safe leave or combined sick and safe leave, and some jurisdictions have mandated sick and safe Leave.

What is safe leave? It is leave that provides employment security in the event of family or personal emergencies beyond personal illness, or situations in which an employee might be vulnerable in one way or another. It can be paid or unpaid, but it provides the employer with the opportunity to show support for an employee who is in a difficult or dangerous situation. Such situations might include domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking; they might involve the employee or a family member. The leave provides job protection and confidentiality. Some states or localities actually mandate safe leave for local employers. In lieu of a separate type of leave, employers can allow employees more flexible use of existing benefits like vacation or sick leave.

Benefits to employees are that safe leave protects their safety/well-being, and it helps to promote a healthier work environment (physically and emotionally), prevent additional harm or trauma, support recovery and even legal action, and provide more job security. Workers are also more able to concentrate on their work because some of their stress has been relieved.