Help staff suffering domestic abuse, urges business minister

EMPLOYERS are being urged to offer as the right to request flexible working. support to staff suffering from domestic The report found that stereotyping of abuse. people affected by domestic abuse was

Business minister Paul Scully has hindering support, despite clear evidence written an open letter to employers showing it can happen to anyone, no asking them to take steps to ensure their matter their gender, age, ethnicity or organisation is spotting signs of economic status. domestic abuse and offering help. A working group is being set up,

Firms are being told that warning signs including employers, domestic abuse include changes in behaviour, a victims and trade unions, to establish sudden drop in performance or practical solutions employers physical signs such as can make in the workplace, bruising. and to measure their impact

Mr Scully said: “For too on supporting survivors. long, a lack of awareness The action by the and stigma around Government comes just speaking about domestic weeks after the Burton abuse has stopped Mail published the story of workplaces from putting in Domestic a Derbyshire woman who place the kind of help that abuse is a bravely spoke out about how survivors so desperately need. huge problem she was lured into an abusive

“I know from personal experience relationship with a partner. that both bosses and colleagues are in a The woman, who asked to remain unique position to help spot the signs of anonymous, said she was flattered by the domestic abuse and ensure survivors get attention, so much so that she “didn’t the support they need so they no longer see any red flags”. have to suffer in silence. However, in the process the suitor

“That doesn’t mean making employers trapped her in a psychologically abusive into counsellors or healthcare workers, relationship, something she said can be a but the actions I’ve outlined today – “silent killer”. She said it took a toll on which can be as simple as providing a her, to the point where she was afraid of safe space to talk – can have a lifehanging the washing out in case doing it changing impact on survivors.” wrongly led to abuse.

The Government published the final The woman, who has been in abusive report from a review into the issue, relationships before, said she realised the saying it will now consult on steps that seriousness of her situation after can be taken so survivors can better undergoing counselling in an attempt to exercise their employment rights, such save the relationship.