Why Domestic Abuse is a Workplace Issue
Head of Learning and Employee DevelopmentLearning and Development Specialist
Kathleen Collier Charlotte Bull
Trigger warning
Please be aware that this briefing will cover the topics of trauma and domestic abuse
We ask that you bear in mind your own wellbeing
If you need further support, please contact BCWA on 0121 553 0090
Why is this important at work?
A UK gov call for evidence found that:
"This can happen to anyone at any level or role within an
organisation, including contracted staff, managers, board members and CEOs."
Emma's Story
Domestic abuse frequently extends into work itself, with different surveys showing that
between of employed victims are harassed by abusive partners while at work.
36% to 75%
A) 10% to 25% B) 35% to 56%C) 36%to 75%
The economic and social costs of domestic abuse
Read the TUC Research here
Why is this important at work?
Average 13 sick days, 5 days’ leave, 10 days late, 6 early departures per year due to DA
Direct cost for UK employers is reported to be through sick leave, absence, reduced productivity and staff turnover.
£316 million
A) £316 million B) £136 millionC) £61 million
Workplace impact and support seeking research
Read the HR Review here
Why is this important at work?
Domestic abuse impacts 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men across their lifetime. Reports suggest that of UK organisations have a formal domestic abuse policy in place.
only 5%
A) 7%B) 5%C) 10%
The economic and social costs of domestic abuse
Read the TUC Research here
Read the HR Review here
DA Act 2021 Definition
First legal, cross-departmental definition of domestic abuse in the UK
Behaviour of a person "A"
towards another person "B" is domestic abuse if:
?!&$!!
16+
Both aged 16+
Personally connected
?!&$!!
The behavior is abusive
16+
16+
DA Act 2021 Definition
They are or have been married/civil partners of each other
What does personally connected mean?
They have agreed to marry one another/ entered civil partnership agreement (whether or not the agreement has been terminated)
According to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, two people are personally connected if any of the following applies:
They each have, or there has been a time when they each have had, a parental relationship with the same child
They are, or have been, in an intimate personal relationship with each other
They are relatives
DA Bill 2021 Definition
What does abusive mean?
- Making threats to kill or seriously harm the victim and/or their children
- Violence towards children or other family members
- Making threats to end their own life or self-harm
- Threatening to report the victim to the police or other authorities and convincing them this is justified/they will be believed
- Threatening to reveal or publish private information such as to work colleagues or the workplace
- Threatening to tell lies to their boss and/or co-workers.
- Threatening to come to the workplace and harm a partner and/or co-workers
- Threatening to destroy needed work clothing or work equipment
Violent or threatening behaviour
DA Bill 2021 Definition
What does abusive mean?
- Hitting, slapping, punching or kicking
- Pushing, shoving, grabbing, biting
- Burning
- Strangulation, choking, suffocation
- Denying medical care or medication
- Coercing the victim into substance misuse, drugging or poisoning
- Sabotaging birth control or coercing the victim to have unprotected sex
- Rape or other unwanted sexual activity
- Unwanted sexting or use of derogatory language towards the victim
- Pursuing sexual activity when the victim is not fully conscious, intoxicated or too afraid to say no
- Sharing or threatening to share intimate content without permission
Physical or sexual abuse
DA Bill 2021 Definition
What does abusive mean?
- Enforcing unrealistic rules that the victim must follow such as that they must be back for a certain time, have a certain task done, make contact on a schedule
- Insisting that it is the sole responsibility of a partner to organize their work schedule around child care, elder care or other family responsibilities
- Extreme jealousy which may be focused on work colleagues
- Isolating the person from friends and family- stopping them from getting to work, being involved in work social activities
- Forcing the victim to take part in criminal activity to prevent disclosure to authorities- this can involve workplace criminal activity such as fraud
- Failing to show up for child care so that a partner can't go to work
Controlling or coercive behaviour
DA Bill 2021 Definition
What does abusive mean?
- Taking all or part of the victim's earnings
- Preventing access to education/training opportunities that would increase earning potential
- Putting debt in the victim's name
- Spending the victim's money without consent or coercing them into giving out money
- Monitoring the victim's expenditure
- Denying the victim access to their own money- this may stop them being able to travel to work, pay internet bills for working from home etc
Economic abuse
Listen to Sinem's story in full here
DA Bill 2021 Definition
What does abusive mean?
- Abusive phone calls, emails, text messages at work.
- Telling a partner that they are incompetent in their job.
- Telling a partner that they do not deserve or will never get a raise and/or a promotion.
- Acting like a supportive spouse around bosses and/or co-workers
- Denying responsibility for a partner being late or absent at work as a result of abuse
- Checking up on a partner to make sure they are at work or to see who they are working with
- Stalking a partner at work.
Psychological, emotional or other abuse
Is this coercive control?
BBC Documentary
Behaviours and tactics
Discuss
Do you think what has been shown is a crime?
How might this present at work?
Rachael
Rachael is 50 and works as a full-time accountant. She lives alone and works in the office three days a week.
Rachael ended her year-long relationship with partner Justin 6 months ago. She felt he was too possessive and got jealous whenever she hung out with her friends. Since separating, Rachael can see that Justin was controlling lots of little things within the relationship. He made comments about her working too much, earning more money than him, spending too much time with friends.
Justin wants to make things right, but Rachael’s doesn't. She’s blocked him on her phone and social media, but he still seems to know where she is and what she’s up to.
BIOGRAPHY
QUOTES
What to look for?
CHANGES
Attendance
Performance
Remote/Hybrid
Physical
Behaviour
Not participating in calls or online meetings, or on mute/video off for prolonged periods Called away or interrupted by a partner when on the phone or in an online meeting Changes in work performance or work quality May be withdrawn or distracted
Unexplained changes to start times or being late for meetings, online or in person Wanting to change working hours for no reason, needing to leave work early Frequent unexplained absence from work/ increase in sick leave Spending an unusual number of hours at work for no particular reason.
The quality of work has deteriorated – performance targets and deadlines are missed and mistakes are made. Work quality affected by frequent text messages, emails, phone calls and/or visits to work by their partner Avoidance of phone calls and signs of distress or anxiety when a text or phone message is received
Visible bruising or injuries with unlikely explanations Changes in clothing, such as wearing long sleeves to hide injuries.
Changes in appearance, e.g., in the use and pattern of make-up Tiredness and irritability Substance use/misuse
Changes in behaviour – becoming quiet, anxious, frightened, aggressive, distracted or depressed. Becoming isolated from colleagues Secrecy about home life and relationships Fear about leaving children at home and not leaving work on time.
Rachael
Rachael has been struggling to sleep because she is receiving calls from private numbers during the night. This is making her late for meetings and she has also missed an important deadline this week. She cannot shift the feeling that someone is watching her and Justin has been sending her messages on different platforms trying to get her to talk to him. She thinks he may be following her. As a result, Rachael is spending more time at home and is feeling really anxious about leaving the house.
BIOGRAPHY
QUOTES
Lisa Simpson
Charlie Brown
Clark Kent
Unknown
Rachael is a fraud. She never went to university and she forged her accounting qualification. She will take your money!
The woman with the red hair was rude to me over the phone. I won't be using this company if you employ staff like that.
Rachael can't do her job. I wouldn't trust her if I were you.
I wanted to put no stars for Rachael but there wasn't the option, so here's a very annoyed 1 star for her.
Rachael
Rachael is one of our senior accountants and has worked with us for more than 20 years.
Justin is also using technology to facilitate his stalking behaviour. He is using fake social media profiles to post negative, vengeful comments about Rachael's work in an attempt to discredit and embarass her. Rachael decides to take time off work.
What to do
Create the right environment
72%
of survivors said their workplace provided them with a feeling of safety compared to their home
Read Vodafone's research here
What to do
Be open and show curiosity- it's okay to ask
Respond with validation and empathy
Read TUC research here
What to do
Direct them to support, internally and externally. What as an employer can YOU do to help?
Sinem's Story
Read TUC research here
Listen to Sinem's story in full here
During a return to work meeting, Rachael discloses what has been happening with Justin. She describes what he was like when they were together and how scared she feels post separation because his behaviour is getting worse.
How could you as an employer help Rachael?
What to do
Remember it's an individual response- they know know their situation best
Be clear and honest
Flexibility
Consider pay
Safety working from home
Safety plan
Record disclosures
Considerations if perpetrator works for you too
How can you make an impact?
Develop a clear domestic abuse workplace policy
Raise awareness & reduce stigma
Train managers and staff
Our services
Children's Service
Domestic Abuse Community Service
Rape & Sexual Violence Service
Stalking Support Service
Ask Marc
- Flourishing Futures is a domestic abuse service in Sandwell, Dudley & Walsall for children aged 5-16
- To make a referral, mums must be open to our domestic abuse services
- Our Future is a domestic abuse support service for children in primary schools in Wolverhampton
- Only schools in this area can refer
- Specialist Male Abuse Advocates (MAAs) support men subjected to domestic abuse, stalking, rape & sexual violence
- There is separate Ask Marc branding & a specific website so that men can easily access information about the service
- Specialist Independent Stalking Advocacy Case Workers (ISACs) cover Sandwell, Dudley Walsall, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Solihull & Coventry
- The team uses the Stalker Risk Profile & the SASH risk assessment to assess risk and stalker motivation
- The service supports women, men & children
- Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) cover Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley & Wolverhampton
- We have specialist ISVAs for children & young people (CHISVAs) & adults with historic childhood sexual abuse
- Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) support high risk clients in Sandwell, Dudley & Walsall
- Domestic Abuse Advocates (DAAs) are based in Sandwell & Walsall
- We have specialist workers supporting GP practices (IRIS), MASH, Family Services, A&E & Court
Our services
Therapeutic & Wellbeing Services
Modern Slavery Accommodation Service
Domestic Abuse Accommodation Services
Modern Slavery Support Service
Women's Justice Services
- Women's Specialist Criminal Justice Practitioners support female offenders in Birmingham, Sandwell & Dudley as part of probation requirements to address abuse & offending & develop confidence
- Women's Justice Workers support women facing homelessness in the Black Country & women in Sandwell & Dudley referred by the police after committing an offence
- We have multiple units of accommodation in Sandwell consisting of purpose built blocks of flats and dispersed properties
- Domestic Abuse Intervention Support Workers (DAISWs) provide one to one emotional & practical support to residents
- Specialist support is offered to children & families
- Safe house accommodation is available to victims of modern slavery & human trafficking who have been referred into the National Referral Mechanism
- Modern Slavery Safehouse Advocates provide emotional and practical support to residents
- Modern Slavery Advocates provide support to victims of human trafficking who have been referred into the National Referral Mechanism
- Referrals come from the Salvation Army
- Tailored outreach support is available to men and women in the West Midlands area
- The service accepts internal referrals for counselling support in relation to sexual violence.
- Counselling support is available to men, women & children in Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall & Wolverhampton
- Counsellors are trained to deliver specialist trauma support for victims of abuse
How to contact us
All referrals, including self-referrals can be made via:
Telephone: 0121 553 0090 (24 hours) Text/Whatsapp: 07384 466 181 (9am-9pm weekdays)
For general enquiries (not referrals):
Email: info@blackcountrywomensaid.co.uk
For support outside of the Black Country: National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 / https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
Discussion
Meet our Panel
Kate Collier, Head of Learning and Employee Development, BCWA
Courtney Stephenson, Associate Solicitor - Corporate & Employment (Business Services), Waldrons
Adam Stopford, People Support Operations Manager, Mitie
Rachel Hill, Local Director, Chair of the Investing in Women Code Committee, Metro Bank
Why Domestic Abuse is a Workplace Issue
Black Country Women'
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Transcript
Why Domestic Abuse is a Workplace Issue
Head of Learning and Employee DevelopmentLearning and Development Specialist
Kathleen Collier Charlotte Bull
Trigger warning
Please be aware that this briefing will cover the topics of trauma and domestic abuse
We ask that you bear in mind your own wellbeing
If you need further support, please contact BCWA on 0121 553 0090
Why is this important at work?
A UK gov call for evidence found that:
"This can happen to anyone at any level or role within an organisation, including contracted staff, managers, board members and CEOs."
Emma's Story
Domestic abuse frequently extends into work itself, with different surveys showing that between of employed victims are harassed by abusive partners while at work.
36% to 75%
A) 10% to 25% B) 35% to 56%C) 36%to 75%
The economic and social costs of domestic abuse
Read the TUC Research here
Why is this important at work?
Average 13 sick days, 5 days’ leave, 10 days late, 6 early departures per year due to DA
Direct cost for UK employers is reported to be through sick leave, absence, reduced productivity and staff turnover.
£316 million
A) £316 million B) £136 millionC) £61 million
Workplace impact and support seeking research
Read the HR Review here
Why is this important at work?
Domestic abuse impacts 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men across their lifetime. Reports suggest that of UK organisations have a formal domestic abuse policy in place.
only 5%
A) 7%B) 5%C) 10%
The economic and social costs of domestic abuse
Read the TUC Research here
Read the HR Review here
DA Act 2021 Definition
First legal, cross-departmental definition of domestic abuse in the UK
Behaviour of a person "A"
towards another person "B" is domestic abuse if:
?!&$!!
16+
Both aged 16+
Personally connected
?!&$!!
The behavior is abusive
16+
16+
DA Act 2021 Definition
They are or have been married/civil partners of each other
What does personally connected mean?
They have agreed to marry one another/ entered civil partnership agreement (whether or not the agreement has been terminated)
According to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, two people are personally connected if any of the following applies:
They each have, or there has been a time when they each have had, a parental relationship with the same child
They are, or have been, in an intimate personal relationship with each other
They are relatives
DA Bill 2021 Definition
What does abusive mean?
Violent or threatening behaviour
DA Bill 2021 Definition
What does abusive mean?
Physical or sexual abuse
DA Bill 2021 Definition
What does abusive mean?
Controlling or coercive behaviour
DA Bill 2021 Definition
What does abusive mean?
Economic abuse
Listen to Sinem's story in full here
DA Bill 2021 Definition
What does abusive mean?
Psychological, emotional or other abuse
Is this coercive control?
BBC Documentary
Behaviours and tactics
Discuss
Do you think what has been shown is a crime?
How might this present at work?
Rachael
Rachael is 50 and works as a full-time accountant. She lives alone and works in the office three days a week. Rachael ended her year-long relationship with partner Justin 6 months ago. She felt he was too possessive and got jealous whenever she hung out with her friends. Since separating, Rachael can see that Justin was controlling lots of little things within the relationship. He made comments about her working too much, earning more money than him, spending too much time with friends. Justin wants to make things right, but Rachael’s doesn't. She’s blocked him on her phone and social media, but he still seems to know where she is and what she’s up to.
BIOGRAPHY
QUOTES
What to look for?
CHANGES
Attendance
Performance
Remote/Hybrid
Physical
Behaviour
Not participating in calls or online meetings, or on mute/video off for prolonged periods Called away or interrupted by a partner when on the phone or in an online meeting Changes in work performance or work quality May be withdrawn or distracted
Unexplained changes to start times or being late for meetings, online or in person Wanting to change working hours for no reason, needing to leave work early Frequent unexplained absence from work/ increase in sick leave Spending an unusual number of hours at work for no particular reason.
The quality of work has deteriorated – performance targets and deadlines are missed and mistakes are made. Work quality affected by frequent text messages, emails, phone calls and/or visits to work by their partner Avoidance of phone calls and signs of distress or anxiety when a text or phone message is received
Visible bruising or injuries with unlikely explanations Changes in clothing, such as wearing long sleeves to hide injuries. Changes in appearance, e.g., in the use and pattern of make-up Tiredness and irritability Substance use/misuse
Changes in behaviour – becoming quiet, anxious, frightened, aggressive, distracted or depressed. Becoming isolated from colleagues Secrecy about home life and relationships Fear about leaving children at home and not leaving work on time.
Rachael
Rachael has been struggling to sleep because she is receiving calls from private numbers during the night. This is making her late for meetings and she has also missed an important deadline this week. She cannot shift the feeling that someone is watching her and Justin has been sending her messages on different platforms trying to get her to talk to him. She thinks he may be following her. As a result, Rachael is spending more time at home and is feeling really anxious about leaving the house.
BIOGRAPHY
QUOTES
Lisa Simpson
Charlie Brown
Clark Kent
Unknown
Rachael is a fraud. She never went to university and she forged her accounting qualification. She will take your money!
The woman with the red hair was rude to me over the phone. I won't be using this company if you employ staff like that.
Rachael can't do her job. I wouldn't trust her if I were you.
I wanted to put no stars for Rachael but there wasn't the option, so here's a very annoyed 1 star for her.
Rachael
Rachael is one of our senior accountants and has worked with us for more than 20 years.
Justin is also using technology to facilitate his stalking behaviour. He is using fake social media profiles to post negative, vengeful comments about Rachael's work in an attempt to discredit and embarass her. Rachael decides to take time off work.
What to do
Create the right environment
72%
of survivors said their workplace provided them with a feeling of safety compared to their home
Read Vodafone's research here
What to do
Be open and show curiosity- it's okay to ask
Respond with validation and empathy
Read TUC research here
What to do
Direct them to support, internally and externally. What as an employer can YOU do to help?
Sinem's Story
Read TUC research here
Listen to Sinem's story in full here
During a return to work meeting, Rachael discloses what has been happening with Justin. She describes what he was like when they were together and how scared she feels post separation because his behaviour is getting worse.
How could you as an employer help Rachael?
What to do
Remember it's an individual response- they know know their situation best
Be clear and honest
Flexibility
Consider pay
Safety working from home
Safety plan
Record disclosures
Considerations if perpetrator works for you too
How can you make an impact?
Develop a clear domestic abuse workplace policy
Raise awareness & reduce stigma
Train managers and staff
Our services
Children's Service
Domestic Abuse Community Service
Rape & Sexual Violence Service
Stalking Support Service
Ask Marc
Our services
Therapeutic & Wellbeing Services
Modern Slavery Accommodation Service
Domestic Abuse Accommodation Services
Modern Slavery Support Service
Women's Justice Services
How to contact us
All referrals, including self-referrals can be made via:
Telephone: 0121 553 0090 (24 hours) Text/Whatsapp: 07384 466 181 (9am-9pm weekdays)
For general enquiries (not referrals):
Email: info@blackcountrywomensaid.co.uk
For support outside of the Black Country: National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 / https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
Discussion
Meet our Panel
Kate Collier, Head of Learning and Employee Development, BCWA Courtney Stephenson, Associate Solicitor - Corporate & Employment (Business Services), Waldrons Adam Stopford, People Support Operations Manager, Mitie Rachel Hill, Local Director, Chair of the Investing in Women Code Committee, Metro Bank