The National Party's had a rethink on a Greens bill that will allow victims of domestic violence to take paid leave from work.

The Greens say at the moment, the situation is costing businesses $368 million or more a year- through lost productivity, businesses losing staff, and having to rehire or retrain.

National didn't support this bill initially- Bill English said employers already had the capacity to offer 'special leave' in this sort of circumstance.

Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse said there would be significant costs if this became policy.

But now, given that Labour, New Zealand First, the Maori Party and Act have already said they'll vote for it, National's come on board.

The statistics back up this bill- Women's Refuge published a study of 450 victims of domestic violence. More than 60% were in a fulltime position before they entered the abusive relationship, but only 27% retained their jobs through the course of the abusive relationship.

In some cases, abusive partners stopped the woman working as a form of control.

And that's because employment gives a woman an income and socially contents her as well -- so the abuser often tries to severe that contact.

A number of businesses already provide for victims of domestic violence.

The Warehouse is one. So too is Countdown, ANZ and the University of Auckland.

And in Australia, they have a domestic violence provision- a report found that in any given year, only 1.5% of female employees and 0.3% of male employees were likely to use it.

So National says they will support this bill, but it needs work.

And the devil will always be in the detail- but on the face of it, and in order to retain victims of domestic violence in the work force -- this makes sense.

Detractors say it will be abused.

Well, will it?

Will we see employees in their droves really turning up to work and telling the boss they've been a victim of domestic violence and they need some time off - if that's not, in fact, the case?

I would hazard a guess that on a percentage basis, fewer people would exploit this legislation compared to those who exploit sick leave. It's one thing to fib about having a migraine because you want a long weekend....it's quite another to ask for time off to consult with lawyers or move house because you've been a victim of domestic violence, when in fact you haven't.

One of the key pathways out of domestic violence is employment, and anything that helps victims stay in work and helps them support their families....well, it's a smart move.

Supporting victims of violence is the right thing to do.