Crime Victims Leave- 26 Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 850

Covered Employers: All employers

Employee Eligibility: All employees are eligible: there are no tenure or hours requirements. Any employee can take this leave if they, or their daughter, son, parent or spouse, are a victim of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, or any act that would support an order for protection under Maine law.

Entitlement: An eligible employee may take reasonable and necessary leave from work to:

• prepare for and attend court proceedings

• receive medical treatment

• attend to medical treatment for a victim who is the employee's daughter, son, parent or spouse; or

• obtain necessary services to remedy a crisis caused by domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

Employer Notice: Not specified

Employee Notice: Employee must communicate a request as soon as possible after learning they will need leave and, in a timely manner, provide the information necessary for the employer to make an informed decision on the request.

Obligation to Provide Certifications or Documents Supporting Need for Leave: The employer may require the employee to provide reasonable documentation of the family relationship, which may include a statement from the employee, a birth certificate, a court document or similar documents.

Paid?: The law does not mandate paid time. The employee can choose to use any paid time they have may earned.

Benefits: Not specified, but the law states that an employer may not sanction an employee or deprive an employee of pay or benefits for
exercising a right granted by this section.

Reinstatement: Not specified, but the law states that an employer may not sanction an employee or deprive an employee of pay or benefits for exercising a right granted by this section.

Other Important Definitions/Requirements: An employer may seek a modification or deny a request for leave if the employer would sustain undue hardship from the employee's absence; the request for leave is not communicated to the employer within a reasonable time under the circumstances; or the requested leave is impractical, unreasonable or unnecessary based on the facts then made known to the employer.

Relationship with Other Leave: Not specified

Absence Specifications