6 October 2020As widely reported in the media, there has been a marked increase in reported incidents of domestic abuse during lockdown. The workplace is often considered a place of safety, where a victim may feel able to ask for help.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) and the Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have produced a guide to help employers offer support to staff who may be experiencing domestic abuse. With many staff currently working at home it is important that employers have the correct policies in place and are able to give employees access to professional support.
The new guide ‘Managing and supporting employees experiencing domestic abuse’ proposes a four-step plan:
- Recognise the problem
- Respond appropriately to the disclosure
- Provide support
- Refer to the appropriate help
The guide contains further steps employers can take to manage domestic abuse, a large part of which is awareness and directing those affected to the correct support.
