The Australian Council of Trade Unions says new research backs a push for employers to introduce a paid domestic violence leave scheme for all workers.

The union surveyed more than 100 businesses and said the results showed family leave boosted staff productivity and morale.

The research conducted by Gendered Violence Research Network and the UNSW found one-third of employers had granted at least one domestic leave request in the past year.

More than 90 per cent of the leave requests were lodged by women and they typically took two to three days off.

Employers and the unions have already negotiated 860 workplace agreements with family violence leave provisions.

But the ACTU has logged a claim with the Fair Work Commission to extend this across the board.

The claim was for 10 days of paid domestic violence leave for workers to attend court appearances, medical and legal appointments and make safety and relocation arrangements.

"This research shows fairly and squarely that it is not onerous, it is not costly and in fact there are amazingly positive benefits for businesses to implement this leave for their employees," ACTU president Ged Kearney said.

"[This survey] gives employees in the workplace confidence to talk to their employer about what has been until now a very private issue that has only been dealt with behind closed doors.

"Too many people, particularly women, have lost their jobs because they haven't been able to discuss this situation with their employer."

Several organisations have opposed the move towards the inclusion of family violence leave in the awards system.

Ms Kearney said it was important people in domestic violence situations did not lose their jobs.

"That is the last thing that they need," she said.

"Being able to go to your employer and ask for specific leave so that you can attend court or move your children to somewhere where they're safe or attend a doctor or medical appointment is really important."

Burden for small businesses: Chamber of Commerce

The ACTU said the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) had argued the extra leave would be a huge cost for businesses and that it could have unintended negative results for women in the workplace.

ACCI chief executive Kate Carnell said while the chamber supported leave for domestic violence, it should not be mandatory due to the negative effects on small business.

"The big end of town, publicly listed companies, many of them already are entering into arraignments with their employees and we absolute support that , but let's not further impact on the small to medium businesses," she said.

"The problem with the ACTU's approach which is to mandate that for all employees.

"That would take it down to the small shop on the corner and those small to medium businesses simply aren't in a position to handle another two weeks of paid annual leave."

The ACCI has lodged a counter-claim in the Fair Work Commission.