When employers take action and respond to domestic abuse, it saves lives

In the second of her blogs for us on the subject of domestic abuse, Lyndsey Dearlove, Head of UK SAYS NO MORE at Hestia, tells us about their new Everyone’s Business Advice Line for employers.
   
 

When employers take action and respond to domestic abuse, it saves lives.

Yet despite 85 per cent of employers recognising that they have a duty of care in supporting staff experiencing domestic abuseⁱ, only 5 per cent of businesses have domestic abuse policy in placeⁱⁱ.

1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men experience domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime. That means that a colleague is likely to be one of them. Next time you are on a conference call or in a big meeting, the likelihood is that someone in that room has experienced domestic abuse. Sadly, very few people speak up about it.

It’s clear that employers have a unique role to play in tackling domestic abuse. We spend so much of our time at work, so having an opportunity to seek support in our work environment is important.

Yet many businesses don’t know how to appropriately make support available.

Last week, Hestia launched the Everyone’s Business Advice Line, the first advice line of its kind in the country. It’s a free, government funded resource for employers, HR leads and managers to use. When they call, they will receive advice on how to respond effectively to disclosures of domestic abuse, particularly in light of Covid-19 and homeworking. They will be provided with information and tools to help them signpost their staff to specialist domestic abuse support services.

Over the course of the past few months, we have heard from survivors who have told us that, for them, work was their safe space. Before lockdown, it was the only place they could go to get away from the abuse. Some told us that they would take up extra hours just to be away from home. Lockdown resulted in them being in confined spaces for a long period with their perpetrator, and with no respite.

However, irrespective of whether a victim feels safest at work, they are still highly unlikely to disclose their experience in a work environment. In fact, fewer than 1 in 3 people discuss the abuse they are enduring with anyone at workⁱⁱⁱ.

Creating an environment that feels safe and supportive, and taking action to address domestic abuse, starts with a few very simple actions:

• Firstly, acknowledge that domestic abuse is happening and that both victims and perpetrators are likely within your workforce. Remember that work is a place of safety for many and that you can be a bridge to them finding specialist support.
• Raise awareness so that those experiencing domestic abuse know that it’s on their employer’s radar. Use your business communications channels – staff newsletters, notice boards, Intranet platforms – to share information about domestic abuse helplines. Use the free Bright Sky app to find local support services so you know what’s available and can therefore signpost people.
• Think about any ways in which you could support your staff to stay in work if they are worried about losing their job by maybe having to move away, or have to take time off to speak with the police or for health reasons. This might include redeployment when necessary. It could also be offering paid leave or an advance on wages if someone discloses that they are thinking of leaving an abusive relationship. Promote these initiatives so staff are aware of them.
• Become a member of the Employers Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA). In doing so, you’ll join a network of hundreds of employers, big and small, and have countless opportunities to learn good practice from peers.

By taking these small steps forward, businesses can create a culture that enables staff to come forward if they are experiencing domestic abuse. The Everyone’s Business Advice Line can provide the advice employers need in responding to disclosures and supporting their staff to access specialist support services.

Regardless of whether employees are working at home, heading back to the office, or have been on the frontline since day one, it’s vital that they can access support when they need it. For far too long, domestic abuse has been nobody’s business. It is beyond time that it becomes everyone’s business.
 

Employers can contact the Everyone’s Business Advice Line on 07770 480437 or via email at Adviceline.EB@hestia.org, from Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm.