New Bill Helps Victims of Spouse Abuse

New rules and guidelines have been set in place to support a bill that allows victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, to take reasonable, unpaid time off work to seek medical or legal services without losing their jobs.

It will affect all businesses in the state that have more than six employees.

“I had wanted to try to leave, and wanted to pre-plan it, get a job and save money things like that and he not allowed to do that at whatever cost,” said Liz, who dealt with an abusive marriage for 11 year, before deciding she needed to do something about it.

She finally got an interview at a nearby Bakery but when she got there her abusive husband showed up.

“It caught me off guard and scared me nobody knew of the interview,” she said.

She got the job but found her husband controlled every aspect of her life.

“Phone calls I had to have that cell phone with me, of course you're not supposed to have cell phones at work and if I didn't answer the call ID have to deal with the consequences when I got home,” Liz said.

Liz is one of thousands of women who deal with abuse on a daily basis.

According to the family violence prevention fund, about 75% of employed battered women, were harassed when they were at work.

“A lot of times they don't want anybody to know so they're covering up, they're hiding they feel like if their employers finds out everything that's going on they're at risk of losing their job,” said Shannon Williams of the Women's Crisis Support Team.

Liz and other victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking can now take time off work to seek legal or medical services and a set of guidelines were issued Tuesday to help businesses throughout the state comply.

“This is something she can go to them and say this is my right and take that opportunity to do what she needs to do to be safe,” said Williams.

Liz has since gotten a restraining order against her husband and now lives at a local shelter.

“It’s not easy... I think if I get a job its another way for him to find me but at one point I feel like he's going to find me I can’t hide forever,” said Liz.

The employee should submit their request in writing and the employer must keep reasons for the leave confidential.

In order to be covered by the law the employee must work more than 25 hours a week for at least 180 days before taking leave.

Oregon is one of nine states with such a measure.

The bill was passed by the Oregon legislature six months ago.