Employers in Philadelphia now must grant unpaid leave to employees who are victims of sexual or domestic violence, or who have a family or household member who is a victim of such violence. Under a new ordinance, which took effect in Philadelphia on January 5, 2009, employees are entitled to unpaid leave to seek medical or psychological attention, obtain services from a victim services organization, relocate or take other precautionary measures, or seek legal assistance. Employers with 50 or more employees for each working day over the 20 weeks preceding the request must grant up to eight workweeks of leave during any 12- month period. Employers with less than 50 employees for each working day during the 33 weeks preceding the request must grant up to four workweeks of leave. Employees are required to certify to the employer that the employee (or a family or household member) is a victim of domestic or sexual violence, and that he or she is requesting leave for one of the purposes noted above. Employers must keep this information "in the strictest confidence." An employer may not interfere with the employee's right to this leave, nor retaliate against the employee for taking it. A copy of the ordinance is available at http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/pdfs/Domestic_or_Sexual_V1.pdf.
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