Helping lockdown victims of abuse
The weekend interview Employers can play a major role in protecting victims of domestic violence, according to Tiggy Clifford. She spoke to Deputy Business Editor Greg Wright.
LOCKDOWN WAS a living hell for victims of domestic abuse, who were often unable to find any escape route from their tormentor.
Statistics provided by IDAS, the specialist charity in Yorkshire which supports anyone experiencing abuse or sexual violence, paint a bleak picture.
During the pandemic, the charity’s helpline has been taking around 380 calls a week from victims who are desperate for support.
In normal times, the workplace can be a place of refuge for domestic violence victims. Lockdown removed this temporary sanctuary. This doesn’t, however, mean that concerned human resources professionals and employment lawyers have been unable to act.
York-based Torque Law is a member of The Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse, which brings together corporate leaders who are determined to make a difference.
Torque Law has also formed a corporate partnership with IDAS, whose services include providing refuge accommodation, communitybased support, peer mentoring, group work and access to a free, confidential out of hours’ helpline.
Tiggy Clifford, a partner at Torque Law, said: “We also received a number of enquiries from clients who were concerned that some of their staff members were potentially suffering from domestic abuse, which was particularly troubling when they were at home during lockdown.”
She added: “They had noticed changes of behaviour which were red flags for potential cases of domestic abuse.
“Our clients in human resources found some quite challenging scenarios and we provided advice about options that were open to them to provide support.”
Three-quarters of women’s organisations have reported an increase in demand for services since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a report published last year, Agenda, a charity that campaigns for women and girls at risk, said increased poverty, rising unemployment, soaring rates of domestic abuse and challenges accessing support have led to a growing crisis in women and girls’ mental health.
Torque Law has previously worked with KYRA, which provides support for vulnerable women through workshops and confidence-building exercises.
Ms Clifford said: “For International Women’s Day we spoke at an event to provide tips about becoming financially independent through work.”
She encouraged participants to think about the sorts of work they would like to do and then carry out research about the opportunities for that work online.
“With IDAS we make a monthly financial contribution to the charity’s work and are planning work to help revamp the rooms within the refuge itself.
“We are also looking to help collect supplies to help ensure that families leaving the refuge are sent out with essential supplies and fresh bedding. Through our work, we have encouraged our clients to help people who were known or suspected to be victims facing abuse to feel safer,” Ms Clifford said.
“We can help signpost our clients to organisations that can help their staff members. These issues can be tricky, but they must be raised if employers are to play a part in tackling
domestic abuse.” Torque Law, which is a specialist employment law practice, was established in 2016 by Tiggy Clifford and Emma Whiting, who were friends with the same vision about how a law firm should operate.
“Emma and I met at university, but never worked together until we set up Torque,” Ms Clifford recalled
“We set up the business so we could have flexibility around our home lives as well. At the time, we both had children at primary school.
“We knew we could build a
niche employment law practice outside the constraints of larger law firms.
“There are eight of us now and we would like to add a fee earner this year and support staff as well.”
“It is so fulfilling to build longterm relationships with clients. I have worked with some of them for more than 15 years.
“We are there to help them with day-to-day issues, rather than just chase work with high fees attached.
“Embracing flexibility has been critical in recruiting and
retaining the exceptional team we have got now. The four-day week model isn’t for everyone.
“For me, it’s more valuable to have the flexibility to know that you can be able to pick children up from school, even if it means working later in the evenings from time to time. We have written our own roles from the outset.”
Ms Clifford believes there may be a case for clients to encourage more flexible working arrangements to retain the best staff, at a time when a number
of clients are facing recruitment challenges.
The company won’t go for growth if it harms its culture.
Ms Clifford said: “In five years’ time we could be twice the size we are now and with more back office support. We are still really committed to Yorkshire. A lot of our clients are within an hour’s drive of our office in York and we really love taking time to visit our clients and understand their business.”
Torque will be on hand to guide clients as Britain emerges from the pandemic’s shadow.
They had noticed changes of behaviour... red flags for potential cases of domestic abuse.