Comments on: Domestic Violence Leave Act Leaves Many Victims Behind

By: jojo

jojo — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 03:39:00 +0000

for me, it’s pretty easy for the person who wrote this.. i’m have gone thru at this.. i have an abusive husband.. i had an IPO but no use.. i lose my job because my husband go to my office and see my boss.. then i almost lose my son because i bring my son to private clinic to see doctor when he had head injuries from his abusive father.. at last i had to reconcile and stay together with this stupid man.. for my son sake..
finally, now i got a better job offer.. but am wondering should i cancel my IPO because of worried it may affect my career.. if my boss found out.. please advices..

By: Leeann

Leeann — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 02:51:22 +0000

This is so horrifically disappointing. Makes me wonder how they do it in other countries–especially with Sicko fresh in my mind, I’m curious as to whether places like France do a better job on this. Anyone know?

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 19:54:08 +0000

This really makes me want to scream and cry at the same time. It is not really a solution is it? I mean, it seems more to me like a condescending “shut up for now” technique. Like you said Shelley, there are many people that could look at the headline and think of this as a victory, but it is not. It really seems more of a way to placate us. And as Sister Mary said, “she” has no say at all. The people writing this legislation up obviously has NO clue what it is to be in that kind of situation, even worse, they have no drive to TRY to empathize.

By: Roy

Roy — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 18:59:38 +0000

This is one of the reasons that I tend towards socialistic systems- I absolutely agree that anyone trying to leave an abusive situation needs the financial resources to survive doing so, but I can also understand where some of those limits are coming from. In this day and age, small businesses don’t always have the resources to compensate employees long term if they’re not there working. What I’d like to see is a fund set up to help defer some of that financial burden so that small businesses can offer the kind of safety net that someone leaving an abusive relationship needs. Of course, if we had a better healthcare system, maybe the money that businesses are dumping into healthcare and employee coverage could to a fund set up as a safety net for leave like this?

Or maybe there should be two types of leave in general: Recreational Leave and Misfortunate Leave. Recreational Leave is any time you want a vacation or a long weekend etc. Misfortune Leave would be if you’re sick, or your kid is sick, or there’s a death in the family, or you have a court date, or a case like this where you’re trying to leave an abusive relationship?

I’m not sure what the best solution is, but, you’re right, this doesn’t sound like it, even if it’s a step in the right direction.

By: Keelia

Keelia — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:54:57 +0000

This doesn't have anything to do with this post, but I thought I'd share how sexist Catholics are: http://orthfullycatholic.blogspot.com/2007/07/altar-boys-vs-altar-girls.html

By: Sister Mary Lisa

Sister Mary Lisa — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:41:00 +0000

And even if the leave were longer, the law states “The leave may be with or without pay, at the employer’s discretion.”

So even if it were a whole week or two, what woman who’s in an abusive situation feels she can give up ANY pay? Not very many, I’d wager. And what employer will be glad to pay her if she’s not actually working? Not very many, I’d wager.

In any event, the abused woman has no say in whether or not her man abuses her; she has no say in how long she needs to recover before her job is lost to her; she has no say in whether or not she is paid for her leave. She basically has no say at all.

What a horrible thing to know about life.

By: shelley

shelley — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:36:08 +0000

what I love most about your posts is how you never except as.. “this will do.” Because it won’t. And though a lot of people may find a legislation like this a victory, it’s still very understated and far from where it should/could be, and you say that. Thanks.