‘Exemplary’: ALDI cheered for paid leave provision for domestic violence victims
ALDI employees will have access each year to ten days of paid family and domestic violence leave as the retailer takes a stand to help drive societal change to prevent violence against women.
To the end of October this year, violence against women had claimed 58 lives, 11 of them in October alone. More women have already been murdered this year than in all of 2017, according to Our Watch and Counting Dead Women Australia’s researchers.
The Fair Work Commission in March this year granted workers covered by Awards five days of unpaid Domestic Violence leave.
After the commission’s decision, ALDI Australia reviewed its leave policies and introduce a new domestic violence policy for employees that goes beyond the Fair Work Commission’s provisions.
“We want to ensure that any ALDI employee who may be experiencing domestic violence has our full support,” the company says.
The recently introduced ALDI Family and Domestic Violence Policy outlines a number of measures designed to offer practical assistance to any employee in need. These include:
- Ten days of paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave annually for full-time and part-time employees (in addition to annual leave, sick/personal leave and compassionate leave entitlements). Casual employees may take 10 days of unpaid leave;
- A one-off payment of $250 for incidental expenses associated with Family and Domestic Violence;
- Assistance in accessing various support services, including access to our specially trained Family and Domestic Violence Supporters;
- Assistance in changing work location if requested and where possible; and
- Access to other leave entitlements such as annual leave, personal/carers’ leave, long service leave, other accrued time or leave without pay in accordance with policies ALDI Australia managing director Viktor Jakupec said today the company’s goal is to provide a supportive workplace promoting respect and the prevention of all forms of violence.
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Karen Willis, executive officer, Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia says ALDI is taking a very important leadership role by supporting employees experiencing family or domestic violence.
“Through their policy, ALDI are making a strong statement that they are here to help any employee experiencing this terrible crime,” Ms Willis said.
“The options available as part of this policy are exemplary, assisting employees to access relevant support as they need it.”
ALDI is an Employer of Choice, proud to be taking a stance on this important topic by providing our workforce of 12,000 employees access to this policy,” the company says.
“Working conditions at ALDI are considered to be some of the best in the industry with employee benefits including salaries well above market rates, comprehensive training, an employee wellness program, and paid maternity leave,” the company says.
