Interpersonal Violence Leave

To view a quick summary of Interpersonal Violence Leave, please review the Employment Leaves Quick Reference - Interpersonal Violence and Public Health Emergency guide.

Interpersonal and sexual violence leave can be taken in a period of 52 weeks and includes:

• Leave for up to 10 days. It can be taken all at once, or intermittently (broken down into days or hours as necessary). Employees are entitled to five paid days, followed by five unpaid days.
• One unpaid leave of up to 16 weeks. This leave must be taken all at once.

Interpersonal violence is defined in The Victims of Interpersonal Violence Act and applies in determining eligibility for Interpersonal and Sexual Violence Leave.

Employees who are victims of interpersonal or sexual violence, or are the parents or caregivers of a victim, are entitled to this leave. Time off work may be taken for one or more of the following reasons:

• to seek medical attention for a victim with respect to a physical or psychological injury or disability caused by interpersonal or sexual violence;
• to obtain services from a victim services organization;
• to obtain psychological or other professional counselling;
• to relocate temporarily or permanently; or
• to seek legal or law enforcement assistance, including preparing or participating in a civil or criminal legal proceeding related to or resulting from the interpersonal violence or sexual violence.

Employees must have worked for an employer for a minimum of 13 weeks and will be required to provide evidence of the services being received if the employer requests it. This could be written confirmation from:

• a social worker;
• a member of the College of Psychologists;
• a duly qualified medical practitioner;
• a practicing member of the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association or the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan;
• a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or another police service; or
• another person approved by the employer who is employed by an agency or organization that provides emergency or transitional shelter or support for victims of interpersonal violence.

For more information refer to 12.4(4) of The Victims of Interpersonal Violence Act to learn more about the acts governing membership of those groups.

Employers are required to ensure personal information about employees accessing the leave is kept confidential.