Businesses lose 10 working days per worker

FIJIAN businesses are losing about 10 days of work per employee each year because of female workers experiencing domestic or sexual violence, according to a report released by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

The Supporting gender equal workplaces in Fiji report was commissioned by IFC through its Gender and Economic Inclusion Group in East Asia and the Pacific.

The report stated 4.1 days was lost to female workers supporting colleagues who had experienced or were experiencing domestic or sexual violence.

Another four days were lost to female workers feeling tired, distracted or unwell due to domestic and sexual violence and 1.8 days were lost because of the workers being late or absent because of domestic and sexual violence.

“The business case for workplace responses to domestic and sexual violence Fiji has an extremely high rate of domestic and sexual violence, with over half the country’s women experiencing domestic or sexual violence during their lifetime,” the IFC report stated.

“This has serious negative impacts on individuals, families, communities, and workplaces, translating into lost staff time and reduced productivity equivalent to almost 10 days of lost work per employee each year.

“It makes good business sense to introduce a formal and structured workplace response to domestic and sexual violence.

“Fijian companies can support affected employees, remove barriers to help employees achieve their full potential, mitigate productivity losses, reduce turnover costs, position themselves as an employer of choice, and contribute to their corporate social responsibility.”