Supporting Employees Experiencing Domestic Abuse - Guidance for Employers & HR Professionals

Introduction

Domestic abuse is estimated to have affected 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men in the UK in their lifetime. Domestic abuse could be physical, emotional, mental, verbal, sexual or financial.

The employer has a duty of care to all employees, and although the employer is not responsible for what might be happening in the employee’s home, there is a responsibility to give support and guidance as necessary. Domestic abuse is often hidden, and it can be difficult for an employer to know why an employee might be struggling. It can also be difficult to know how to manage these very sensitive situations.

This short webinar will help employers to understand their duties, how they should train managers and how to develop relevant policies. It is suitable for all those who have line management responsibility, both lawyers and support services.

What You Will Learn

This course will cover the following:

• Domestic abuse
• What it is
• The prevalence of domestic abuse
• How to recognise signs of domestic abuse
• The duty of care to the employee
• What the duty of care requires the employer to do
• What the employer should not do
• Offering support to an employee
• Supporting an abuser
• How to support an employee accused of being an abuser
• Identifying inappropriate behaviours
• What to do if an employee faces criminal action
• Policies and procedures
• What should be included in a policy?
• Education and training for managers

This webinar was recorded on 17th August 2021