RNZ: Gloriavale leaver given one week off work for the birth of her child

By Niva Chittock | RNZ |

A former Gloriavale member says she returned to work a week after her baby was born.

Crystal Loyal is one of six former Gloriavale women seeking a ruling they were employees, not volunteers, during their time in the Christian community.

Gloriavale’s leaders maintain the women were never employees of the community and strongly deny the claims.

From five years old, Loyal began working in the community, setting tables for dinner.

She told the court about how one of Gloriavale’s leaders inappropriately touched girls aged eight- to 10-years-old at meal times.

“When you served his table in the mornings he’d put his arm around your waist, kiss your neck, and touch your bum. A lot of the older men thought this was their right with the young girls,” she said.

“He did this to all the girls, I recall no one wanted to serve his table.”

Her workload progressively increased with age, until she was working full-time at 14.

As Loyal got older, she said it felt like work was also prioritised over spending time with your children.

She fought back tears as she explained the situation.

“When I was pregnant I worked to the birth, then I had a week off with my baby. After a week he was placed in the centre and I carried on, on the teams [the four day roster of women’s community work].”

Further reading: Gloriavale leaver given one week off work for the birth of her child