On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Domestic Violence on Thursday, August 30, 2018.
Victims of abuse in Missouri and throughout the United States often cite an inability to get time off from work as a reason for not leaving their abusers. When a person chooses to leave a relationship, they need time to meet with attorneys or look for an apartment. They generally need time to engage in the process of recovering both physically and emotionally.
While countries like New Zealand offer paid leave for victims of domestic abuse, that typically isn’t the case in the United States. Only eight states and six other cities have any policy that allows for workers to take time off to leave an abusive relationship. According to a survey done in 2017, 42 percent of American employers don’t offer paid leave for victims of domestic abuse. If a company lacks such a policy, employees can be vulnerable to termination with little recourse if that happens.
In some cases, an abuser will restrict the victim’s ability to access a bank account. Therefore, he or she could have little or no money after being fired. Without sufficient financial resources, it can be impossible to leave an abuser or leave that person for good. It is also common for abusers to get a victim fired in an attempt to further control that person.
Those who are victims of domestic violence may be able to file for a restraining order or take other legal action against an abuser. In some cases, an abuser will lose his or her parental rights while being ordered to pay child support. Abuse victims generally have the option of filing a personal injury claim to obtain compensation for physical and emotional damage. This could make it easier for abuse victims to pay medical bills or otherwise help to build a stronger financial future.
