{"id":177,"date":"2026-02-26T19:30:59","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T00:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/employee-handbook\/?page_id=177"},"modified":"2026-02-26T19:31:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T00:31:13","slug":"domestic-violence-leave","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/employee-handbook\/leaves-of-absence\/domestic-violence-leave\/","title":{"rendered":"Domestic violence leave"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The University provides up to 15 days of unpaid leave per rolling 12-month period to victims of abusive behavior, domestic violence, sexual assault, kidnapping, and\/or stalking, and certain family members, for purposes directly related to the abusive behavior. These purposes may include seeking legal or medical services, counseling, or victim’s services; securing housing; obtaining a protective order; appearing in court or before a grand jury; or addressing other issues directly related to the abusive behavior against the victim or family member of the victim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may take domestic violence leave if you are a victim of abusive behavior, or due to the abuse of a covered family member, including your spouse\/partner, parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild, or persons in a guardian relationship. Perpetrators or accused perpetrators of abuse are not entitled to domestic violence leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before taking domestic violence leave, you must exhaust all of your accrued paid time off, including but not limited to sick time, vacation days, and personal time. You must provide advance notice of your need for leave whenever possible; however, this requirement does not apply if you or a covered family member faces imminent danger to you or your family member’s health or safety. Should you be unable to provide advance notice based on a risk of imminent danger, you must notify your manager or The Office of Human Resources and Operational Excellence within three business days that the time off was related to domestic violence. Should you be unable to notify the University, a family member, counselor, clergy, or assisting professional may do so on your behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The University may require documentation supporting your claim for domestic violence leave. Such documentation can consist of a protective order or other court document, police report, police witness statement, documents reflecting the perpetrator’s conviction or admission of guilt, documentation of medical treatment, and\/or a victim advocate, counselor, social worker, health care worker, member of the clergy, or other assisting professional’s sworn statement. In lieu of these documents, you may also submit your own sworn signed statement. Any documentation supporting the need for domestic violence leave must be submitted within 30 days of your last date of absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the leave may not be paid, you are entitled to return to the same or a substantially equivalent position once your leave has ended. You will not be terminated, retaliated against, or receive a reduction in benefits based on your use of domestic violence leave. All information related to the leave will be kept in the strictest confidence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n