Ms Batty, whose 11-year-old son Luke was murdered by his father last year, has joined national trade union leaders to urge the Fair Work Commission to cement domestic violence leave as a universal workplace right.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions has lodged a claim seeking provisions in workplace awards for 10 days' paid domestic violence leave for permanent employees and 10 days' unpaid leave for casual staff.

The submission argues that the special leave, funded by employers, would provide abuse victims more time to attend court appearances and appointments, seek legal advice and make relocation arrangements without the risk of losing their jobs.

Ms Batty said the year before her son died had been a "year from hell".

"I can't tell you how many days I spent in court ... I was making statements to police, taking time out of my day and following up on things connected to charges," she said.

"Paid domestic violence leave, I believe, can ultimately mean the difference between someone possibly losing their job and falling into poverty, and not being able to find rental accommodation. I see this as a really critical step."

The ACTU's submission will also call for more flexible work arrangements such as different start-finish times to reduce the risk of stalking when domestic violence victims come and go from their workplaces.

Ms Batty and unions are pressing the major political parties to provide bi-partisan support by making similar claims to the Fair Work Commission.

The number of Australian workplaces offering domestic violence leave has more than doubled in two years, with an estimated 1.6 million people now able to access it.

A growing number of large companies – including Telstra, National Australia Bank, Aldi, Dulux, McDonalds and IKEA – have introduced such clauses, in a trend that advocates say recognises the problem of domestic violence is no longer a private matter.

But now unions are pushing to extend it further and to have paid domestic violence leave guaranteed as a universal right across many more workplace deals.

The idea is strongly opposed by Australia's biggest business group, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which says it is unreasonable to force employers to pick up the cost of social problems that have nothing to do with work.

ACCI chief Kate Carnell said an extra 10 days' leave was a heavy burden for employers to carry.

"Domestic violence is a problem, there's no doubt about it, but it's a community problem, not an employment issue," she said.

Speaking at the ACTU national congress in Melbourne on Tuesday, ACTU secretary Ged Kearney said domestic violence was a "whole of society" issue, which included the workplace and employers.

"Having a job and financial stability is critical for women to escape a violent and abusive relationship," she said.