UK: Workplace Culture – Guide on Supporting Employees Suffering Domestic Abuse

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), have published a guide for employers on supporting employees suffering domestic abuse.

The guide recommends that employers have a clear policy in place to support employees and a framework of support. This should include: recognising the problem, responding appropriately to disclosure, providing support and referring to the appropriate help.

The guide stresses the need for an open workplace culture and emphasises that the employer’s role should be to enable their employees to access professional support (such as legal or financial advice, housing support, counselling or childcare), and that employers should provide paid leave for employees who are struggling to do their work or who need to access essential services.

Practical Point

With many people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, employers should consider how they can support their employees when escape routes or time apart from an abuser may be dramatically curtailed.

Employers must ensure that it is clear what roles and responsibilities HR and line managers have in providing support to employees experiencing domestic abuse. https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/culture/well-being/supporting-employees-experiencing-domestic-abuse.

If you have any questions or would like advice on any of the issues raised here, please get in touch with your usual Clyde & Co contact. Clyde & Co attorneys are available to assist you with these and other workplace issues. For more information, visit www.clydeco.com. 

For more information please contact Joseph Granato, Communications Manager at L&E Global at joseph.granato@leglobal.org.