Employers urged to approach domestic violence as 'workplace issue'
Is Aid, Of Benson, Workplace Abuse Sarah Ashe/sharppix Issue,” And Violence Gary Women's “domestic Said: A File Picture Ceo
Employers have been urged to address domestic violence as a “workplace issue”, as the Government’s new statutory domestic violence leave provisions begin on Monday.
Under the system, workers experiencing domestic abuse will be entitled to up to five days’ domestic violence leave at a full rate of pay, over a period of 12 months.
Ahead of its introduction, the Department of Children has funded Women’s Aid to develop a new online support hub to guide employers to implement the new statutory leave.
The organisation said that the website dvatwork.ie can help employers implement this important measure designed to help vulnerable people cope with what can be an extremely stressful period in their lives.
“Domestic violence and abuse is a workplace issue,” Women’s Aid CEO Sarah Benson said.
“That might seem like an odd thing to say about something that most consider belonging in the realm of personal relationships, but the reality is that domestic abuse tactics and impacts extend far beyond the home and into all aspects of victim-survivors’ lives.
Ms Benson said that issues around coercive control and economic abuse can be linked directly to work, such as someone being pressured or coerced to give up employment or their economic freedom by an abusive partner.
She said that addressing domestic violence as a workplace issue “is not about taking on the role of a counsellor or support worker”.
“Rather, it is about creating a safe, supportive environment for victim-survivors to disclose what they are experiencing by reducing the stigma surrounding the issue and offering targeted support,” she added.
“There are simple ways employers can do this through training, awareness-raising, and policy development and integration.”