The Warehouse fights domestic abuse
Retail company The Warehouse, is urging businesses to help fight domestic violence by supporting the workforce with a formal employment policy.
The firm has had its own policy called ‘‘Violence is not ok’’ in place in its stores and offices since last year, which allows workers time off for recovery if they have suffered a violent domestic event.
Now, it wants other businesses to join in its efforts to tackle the issue, as the country focuses on the anti-violence White Ribbon Day campaign this month.
‘‘Domestic violence is a horrific issue,’’ said The Warehouse’s chief executive and White Ribbon ambassador Simon Turner. ‘‘And unfortunately, it is one where New Zealand really stands out.’’
Key to The Warehouse’s policy is the provision of ten days additional leave, which can be used confidentially by staff suffering problems with violence at home. ‘‘The time can be used to recover from injuries without embarrassment, relocation, dealing with children and custody issues and taking legal advice,’’ said Turner.
‘‘We reckoned that if we did something across the business, then we could have a positive impact on 40,000 people,’’ he added. ’’The cost of domestic violence on productivity in New Zealand is estimated to be $350m. There are costs involved in offering extra time off, but in practice, while employees can take ten days, they usually back at work within two or three.
‘‘To us it is a positive investment in team engagement and will have a preventative effect on absenteeism and staff turnover.’’
The company policy is also available to the perpetrators of abuse, so they can seek counselling for their problem.
Experts at the Women’s Refuge were consulted to produce training materials for staff, which The Warehouse is keen to share free of charge with other companies.
Turner said the next step might be lobbying government to provide incentives to firms.
‘‘We took it to the executive team and they thought it was absolutely the right thing to do.’’