UK government includes workplaces in abuse advice

UNISON’s argument that home and work cannot be neatly separated in terms of domestic abuse has been recognised in draft statutory guidance in support of the Domestic Abuse Act.
The government is now recommending that, as best practice, employers should develop policies that set out their approach to domestic abuse, which could include signposting, roles and responsibilities in their organisations, and training.
It has stated that, “this support offer may include access to paid leave, which can be helpful to victims in certain situations”.
The Home Office has launched a consultation on the draft guidance, whose key objectives, which will apply to England and Wales, are:

to provide clear information on what domestic abuse is, to help identify where it is happening;
to provide guidance and support to frontline professionals; and
to improve the institutional response to domestic abuse by conveying best practice and standards.

Included in the range of resources for employers to use or sign up to is UNISON’s model workplace agreement on domestic violence and abuse.
The union’s influence can also be seen in the wording for the non-molestation orders that protect a named person from specific behaviour, which can include prohibiting the abuser from:

using or threatening physical violence;
going to the victim’s home or workplace;
intimidating, harassing or pestering; and
instructing or encouraging others to do the above on their behalf.

That the workplace is included in...

Source: UNISON meat hygiene - August 5, 2021 Category: Food Science Authors: Amanda Kendal Tags: Article News domestic abuse unison women Source Type: news