New law provides sick leave for domestic violence victims

A new voter-approved law that raises Arizona’s minimum wage to $12 by 2020 has a lesser-known section that lets victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse or stalking take paid sick leave to manage the effects of those events.

The Arizona Capitol Times reports that Proposition 206 will let workers use paid sick leave for medical attention, services from a domestic violence program, counseling, relocation or legal services that may be required after experiencing domestic abuse.

Shannon Rich, director of public policy at Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, says businesses sometimes may allow their employees to use sick time for domestic violence, but others may not.

Rich says the change in law will provide a uniform policy for all employers.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.