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Download the Toolkit DOMESTIC ABUSE: A TOOLKIT FOR EMPLOYERS #YOUARENOTALONE This toolkit was co-produced by Public Health England (PHE) and Business in the 3 INTRODUCTION Community (BITC) and, kindly sponsored by The Insurance Charities in 2018. 5 FOREWORD This updated version , supported by the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse 8 CORE STATISTICS (EIDA), includes information on the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act, new resources, initiatives and case studies. 9 THE BUSINESS CASE It is a guide for employers, attending to the challenges they face when seeking to 10 POSITIVE PARTNERSHIP implement domestic abuse policies and support, particularly since the COVID-19 11 THE FOUR R’S APPROACH pandemic which has resulted in new ways of working. A recent survey has shown that 18% of employees are wanting to work from home all the time after the 12 UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE pandemic, with a further 39% preferring a balance where they are in the office for some of the week and at home for the remainder. This has led to the use of a 13 SPOTTING THE SIGNS relatively new term: hybrid working1. 14 DOMESTIC ABUSE AND THE LAW This toolkit has been informed by an evidence review produced by PHE and the 16 DOMESTIC ABUSE AND WORKING FROM HOME Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) review into workplace support for victims of domestic abuse. The evidence was considered by a steering 17 TAKING ACTION group made-up of practitioners, professionals and business experts. 17 DOMESTIC ABUSE POLICIES It also draws on the experience of employers who have taken steps to support 18 THREE LEVELS OF ACTION victims of domestic abuse in the workplace and signposts external organisations that offer advice and support to employers and employees. The data and information 19 EXAMPLES OF PRACTICAL WORKPLACE SUPPORT provided is up to date as of June 2021. 20 OPENING A CONVERSATION 21 DISCLOSURE 22 PERPETRATORS 25 USEFUL RESOURCES 26 CASE STUDIES 31 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1 https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/relations/flexible-working/planning-hybrid-working#gref INTRODUCTION UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE TAKING ACTION USEFUL RESOURCES CASE STUDIES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION Domestic abuse refers to abusive Men, women and children can all Employers have an important role to play behaviours which take place between Online experience domestic abuse, and in society’s response to domestic abuse. two people aged over 16 who are perpetrators can be male or female, Never more so than in the context of the personally connected to each other. though women are disproportionately COVID-19 pandemic which has seen an This includes people who are, or have affected by domestic abuse and the exponential shift to working from home. Psychological previously been married, in civil majority of perpetrators are men3. It takes For those experiencing abuse, the partnerships or in relationships; or place at all levels of society, regardless of workplace often offers a safe space and a have a child together; or are relatives2. social class, race, religion, gender identity, respite away from their abuser. Physical sexuality or disability. Individuals who Colleagues and managers can often be experience abuse are often affected by it the only other people outside the home 2021 Domestic Abuse Act states that long after they have left their partner4. that survivors talk to each day and are abuse can be a single incident, but is Sexual therefore uniquely placed to help spot often a pattern of behaviours, and it There are 2.3 million victims5 of domestic signs of abuse. takes many forms: abuse each year, aged 16 to 74. Two Emotional thirds of whom are women, one third men, and two in ten offences recorded by ACCORDING TO REFUGE, the police are domestic abuse related. CALLS TO HELPLINES HAVE Two women each week and one man Verbal INCREASED BY 61% SINCE each month are killed in England and 6 LOCKDOWN BEGAN. Wales by a current or former partner . Economic There are implications of increased These statistics speak for themselves, and that’s before we consider that they may working from home for both employees and employers, and guidance pertaining not reveal the full picture as under- reporting is an issue. Domestic abuse is a to this increased risk for victims of Coercive and hugely destructive problem and we have a domestic abuse is addressed in this toolkit. controlling behaviour collective responsibility to tackle it. 2 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/definition-of-domestic-violence-and-abuse-guide-for-local-areas 3 | domestic abuse a toolkit for employers 3 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/compendium/focusonviolentcrimeandsexualoffences/yearendingmarch2015/chapter4intimatepersonalviolenceandpartnerabuse 4 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/597435/DometicAbuseGuidance.pdf 5 Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview - Office for National Statisticsons.gov.uk ( ) 6 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/compendium/focusonviolentcrimeandsexualoffences/yearendingmarch2015/chapter4intimatepersonalviolenceandpartnerabuse INTRODUCTION UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE TAKING ACTION USEFUL RESOURCES CASE STUDIES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS #YOUARENOTALONE AT HOME COVID-19 has shone a light on way for domestic abuse victims the hidden harm of domestic to signal that they need abuse. The Government’s immediate help using a codeword extensive #YouAreNotAlone in participating pharmacies. SHOULDN'T communications campaign has Almost half of all pharmacies raised awareness of domestic across the UK are now abuse and the support available participating in the scheme, to victims, reaching almost following the launch in January MEAN 32 million (UK adults as of 2021. More information on the March 2021) as well as being Government’s response to translated into 16 languages. domestic abuse can be AT RISK The Home Office’s 'Ask for ANI’ found Government's response to codeword scheme continues to domestic abuse. provide a simple and discreet 4 | domestic abuse a toolkit for employers INTRODUCTION UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE TAKING ACTION USEFUL RESOURCES CASE STUDIES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the aims of this toolkit This toolkit will help your organisation, occupational health (OH), health and The value of employers sharing best whether private business, public sector or safety teams and anyone responsible for practice is not to be underestimated. DOMESTIC charity, large or small, to support your employee health and wellbeing Although the guidance in this toolkit has employees and contribute to tackling programmes in the workplace. been informed by the latest data and ABUSE: domestic abuse. evidence available, it should be noted The focus of this toolkit is abuse by an that there is limited published evidence A TOOLKIT FOR It offers guidance on steps to take and intimate partner. Other forms of domestic on effective employer interventions to measures to implement to respond abuse and violence, such as crimes in the support victims of domestic abuse in the EMPLOYERS appropriately when an employee name of ‘honour’, human trafficking and workplace . discloses abuse. It sets out steps that are sexual exploitation, and female genital easy to follow and helps you choose the mutilation are outside of its scope. There The role of business extends to sharing best free resources for you and your are links to organisations that specialise examples of what measures have team. It also signposts to external in these forms of abuse in the appendix. worked to encourage disclosures and organisations that offer advice and support staff. support to employers and employees. The case studies are the contribution of employers who are taking steps to Further information on the practical steps address domestic abuse. They highlight you can take as an employer can be the personal stories of individuals found on page 17. affected as well as practical examples of the initiatives developed by employers to It is intended for business leaders, senior support them. managers, Human Resources (HR), 5 | domestic abuse a toolkit for employers INTRODUCTION UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE TAKING ACTION USEFUL RESOURCES CASE STUDIES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Joint Ministerial Foreword: anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, awareness of domestic abuse in the ensure that support and help reach victims regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, socio- workplace through signposting to of this abhorrent crime, wherever it is economic status, sexual orientation or specialist services and organisations or sought. Home should be a safe place for background. With almost 2.3 million victims offering a safe space for employees. It everyone, but to those living with an every single year, the costs related to shows the value of having a workplace abuser it is clearly not. With access to domestic abuse in England and Wales are policy on domestic abuse in sending a friends and family often controlled by the estimated at around £71 billion per annum. clear message that abuse is not tolerated perpetrator, it is the workplace that offers Victoria Atkins and that the employer wants to help. the respite and support they need. We Minister for The devastating consequences of These are just some of the ways that have seen throughout this coronavirus Safeguarding domestic abuse are such that they employers are taking action. pandemic innovation from employers - necessitate a comprehensive programme whether that is printing information on the of work across Government and broader We are
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