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Employers - #YouAreNotPowerless to tackle domestic abuse
Lorraine O’Brien, CEO of of the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA), explains how employers can act to tackle domestic abuse.
Members of the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) believe that domestic abuse is everyone’s business, and that businesses have a critical role to play in supporting those affected by domestic abuse.
We are a dynamic community of made up of large and small businesses sharing learning and experience to better support all those affected by domestic abuse. Our work is based on collaboration - empowering our members to take action and share best practice across sectors and networks.
That’s why we’re so delighted to work with Crimestoppers this month on their #YouAreNotPowerless campaign. Crimestoppers’ message echoes our own - reinforcing the sense that we can all act to tackle domestic abuse and support those affected - be we friends, neighbours, colleagues or employers.
Sadly, we know that during lockdown, incidents of domestic abuse massively rose. The shift to home working meant that many victims of domestic abuse were unable to access what is often their only safe space - the workplace. Calls to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, and visits to its website, have risen exponentially during the crisis.
The EIDA has been inundated by existing members asking for our help and support on how they can best support colleagues who are not in their traditional workplace.
But now, as many companies start to tentatively return to the workplace, and others make permanent changes to the way they work, we must seize the moment to build a new culture across business, where employers feel empowered to support staff who are affected and employees feel confident that if they ask for help they will receive it.
We know that by speaking out on domestic abuse - by doing something as simple as having a domestic abuse policy - employers can help to break the wall of silence, and encourage employees to reach out either on behalf of themselves, or on behalf of colleagues they fear may be at risk.
This week marks ‘Business Week’ in the #YouAreNotPowerless campaign, an important opportunity to communicate with employers and ensure they are aware of the resources and support available to them. There are a number of practical steps businesses can take - starting with joining the EIDA. Membership gives you access to valuable resources such as our Employers Toolkit, as well as a supportive network of fellow employers with whom to share best practice and different ideas.
We’re also piloting a new Beacon Membership - giving members the opportunity to step up and lead in terms of shining a light on the pernicious effects of domestic abuse as well as tackling it through the workplace.
I am personally heading up this project - if you want to find out more about how to become a Beacon, please contact me on ceo@eida.org.uk.
Employers should also ensure that they signpost employees to appropriate services - the EIDA Toolkit is a great resource to quickly find support, and the Bright Sky mobile app, which is free to download from the App Store or Google Play, provides support and information to anyone who may be experiencing domestic abuse or is concerned about someone they know.
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is also available 24 hours a day, for free and in confidence on 0808 2000 247. And of course, the Crimestoppers phone line is always available on 0800 555 111 and is 100 per cent anonymous if you have concerns about an employee or colleague.
This all serves to underscore the message of the Crimestoppers campaign - #YouAreNotPowerless. It's not just that businesses have a duty to support employees at risk of domestic abuse - it's that these resources empower them to do so. No one should feel powerless to help relatives, friends or colleagues affected by domestic abuse - help really is at hand.
Anyone making a call to Crimestoppers is protected with complete anonymity, which is so important particularly for a victim who is afraid and desperate.
We all know that the Covid-19 pandemic will shape our lives for many months to come, and that it will change some aspects of our world forever. I genuinely believe that we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to revolutionise the way we approach and tackle domestic abuse in this country - and it begins in the workplace.
Members of the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) believe that domestic abuse is everyone’s business, and that businesses have a critical role to play in supporting those affected by domestic abuse.
We are a dynamic community of made up of large and small businesses sharing learning and experience to better support all those affected by domestic abuse. Our work is based on collaboration - empowering our members to take action and share best practice across sectors and networks.
That’s why we’re so delighted to work with Crimestoppers this month on their #YouAreNotPowerless campaign. Crimestoppers’ message echoes our own - reinforcing the sense that we can all act to tackle domestic abuse and support those affected - be we friends, neighbours, colleagues or employers.
Sadly, we know that during lockdown, incidents of domestic abuse massively rose. The shift to home working meant that many victims of domestic abuse were unable to access what is often their only safe space - the workplace. Calls to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, and visits to its website, have risen exponentially during the crisis.
The EIDA has been inundated by existing members asking for our help and support on how they can best support colleagues who are not in their traditional workplace.
But now, as many companies start to tentatively return to the workplace, and others make permanent changes to the way they work, we must seize the moment to build a new culture across business, where employers feel empowered to support staff who are affected and employees feel confident that if they ask for help they will receive it.
We know that by speaking out on domestic abuse - by doing something as simple as having a domestic abuse policy - employers can help to break the wall of silence, and encourage employees to reach out either on behalf of themselves, or on behalf of colleagues they fear may be at risk.
This week marks ‘Business Week’ in the #YouAreNotPowerless campaign, an important opportunity to communicate with employers and ensure they are aware of the resources and support available to them. There are a number of practical steps businesses can take - starting with joining the EIDA. Membership gives you access to valuable resources such as our Employers Toolkit, as well as a supportive network of fellow employers with whom to share best practice and different ideas.
We’re also piloting a new Beacon Membership - giving members the opportunity to step up and lead in terms of shining a light on the pernicious effects of domestic abuse as well as tackling it through the workplace.
I am personally heading up this project - if you want to find out more about how to become a Beacon, please contact me on ceo@eida.org.uk.
Employers should also ensure that they signpost employees to appropriate services - the EIDA Toolkit is a great resource to quickly find support, and the Bright Sky mobile app, which is free to download from the App Store or Google Play, provides support and information to anyone who may be experiencing domestic abuse or is concerned about someone they know.
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is also available 24 hours a day, for free and in confidence on 0808 2000 247. And of course, the Crimestoppers phone line is always available on 0800 555 111 and is 100 per cent anonymous if you have concerns about an employee or colleague.
This all serves to underscore the message of the Crimestoppers campaign - #YouAreNotPowerless. It's not just that businesses have a duty to support employees at risk of domestic abuse - it's that these resources empower them to do so. No one should feel powerless to help relatives, friends or colleagues affected by domestic abuse - help really is at hand.
Anyone making a call to Crimestoppers is protected with complete anonymity, which is so important particularly for a victim who is afraid and desperate.
We all know that the Covid-19 pandemic will shape our lives for many months to come, and that it will change some aspects of our world forever. I genuinely believe that we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to revolutionise the way we approach and tackle domestic abuse in this country - and it begins in the workplace.
