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Help reduce the financial and human cost of domestic violence by raising awareness and taking action to address the impact of domestic violenece in your work place.

Employers role in tackling Domestic Violence
16th November 2011

At face value you might think that domestic violence is not something the employers should worry about – by its definition its domestic, so therefore not happening at work. But the facts are that the impact of domestic violence reaches the workplace, and as well as being socially responsible there are good business reasons why employers should play their role in tackling it.

Domestic violence affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men. 56% of abused women arrive late for work at least five times per month. 53% are absent from work at least three days per month. 75% of domestic abuse victims are targeted at work – from harassing phone calls, text messages and emails, to arriving at work often leading to physical assaults. Domestic violence costs UK businesses £1.9 billion each year through absence, injury and reduced productivity.

My awareness of this was raised in recent meeting with an energetic Bostonian, Melissa Morbeck. Melissa is the Executive Director of Corporate Alliance against Domestic Violence (CAADV), a non-profit organisation dedicated to reducing the costs and consequences of domestic violence. By targeting the role of employers I think CAADV is on to something. Many of the initiatives employers can put in place can help with the health impacts of non-work issues, such as relationship difficulties that in extreme circumstances leads to domestic violence. CAADV advocates employers putting in place a Domestic Violence Policy alongside other HR policies as a reflection of good management practice and corporate social responsibility.

I’m delighted to be working with Melissa and CAADV to raise the awareness of domestic violence and highlight the support and interventions that are available, through the Leeds Met wellbeing website.

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For more information about CAADV, please contact: support@caadv.org.uk