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69ABA: Interpretation
or “This section explains important words and ideas used in the law about flexible work for people affected by family violence.”

You could also call this:

“An employee can ask for help at work if they've been affected by family violence, no matter when it happened.”

You can ask to change your work arrangements if you have been affected by family violence. You can make this request at any time to help you deal with the effects of family violence. It doesn’t matter how long ago the family violence happened, even if it was before you started your current job.

You can ask for a short-term change that lasts up to 2 months. This doesn’t stop you from also asking for a longer or permanent change under a different part of the law (Part 6AA).

The short-term request you make under this part of the law is different from the longer-term requests covered in section 69AAA. You can make both types of requests if you need to.

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Next up: 69ABC: Requirements relating to request

or “ Rules for workers asking to change their job to handle family problems ”

Part 6AB Flexible working short-term for people affected by family violence
Employee’s statutory right to make request

69ABBWhen and why employee may make request

  1. An employee who is a person affected by family violence may make a request—

  2. at any time; and
    1. for the purpose of assisting the employee to deal with the effects on the employee of being a person affected by family violence.
      1. Subsection (1) applies regardless of how long ago the family violence occurred, and even if the family violence occurred before the person became an employee.

      2. A request made under this Part for a short-term (2-month or shorter) variation of the employee’s working arrangements (as defined in section 69ABA) does not prevent a request also being made under Part 6AA by or on behalf of the employee for a permanent, or fixed-period longer than 2 months, variation under that Part of the employee’s working arrangements (as defined in section 69AAA).

      Notes
      • Section 69ABB: inserted, on , by section 6 of the Domestic Violence—Victims' Protection Act 2018 (2018 No 21).
      • Section 69ABB(1): amended, on , by section 259(1) of the Family Violence Act 2018 (2018 No 46).
      • Section 69ABB(1)(b): amended, on , by section 259(1) of the Family Violence Act 2018 (2018 No 46).
      • Section 69ABB(2): amended, on , by section 259(1) of the Family Violence Act 2018 (2018 No 46).