Workplaces implementing policies to support domestic violence victims: Report

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s 2014-15 dataset has indicated that in recent times, employers are adopting relevant strategies to help domestic violence victims in Australia.

Around 34.9 percent of Australian workplaces have implemented domestic violence policies, more than 32.2 percent in 2014. The report suggested that the employers have now become more conscious about supporting employees who suffer from domestic violence issues. To make sure their concern produces effective results, employers have introduced several measures to help domestic violence sufferers.

Agency Director Libby Lyons said that the data suggested there is still a long way to go for the employers in converting their concern into effective strategy implementation to support domestic violence victims. “Every workplace is potentially impacted by domestic and family violence,” Lyons said in a statement .

“Employers can make a real difference to employees experiencing domestic violence through targeted and appropriate support. There is still a long way to go until support for people experiencing domestic violence is embedded in Australian workplaces, but it’s very encouraging to see measurable progress being made.”

The most common measures include employee assistance programs by 64.7 percent companies, access to leave program available by 52.4 percent organisations and referral services by 26 percent workplaces in Australia. About 13.5 percent companies have initiated human resources training of the staff members to handle cases where employees experience domestic violence

The dataset includes non-public sectors that employ over 100 people. It covers more than 12,000 employers and 4 million employees. The numbers represent 40 percent of employees in the country.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Wednesday that he was considering adoption of five days’ work leave for Australian domestic violence victims as proposed by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. On the White Ribbon Day, SA Premier Jay Weatherill and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that the state public servants in their constituencies could take 15 and 10 days’ leave in a year respectively if they suffer from domestic violence.

Employers like Telstra, McDonald’s and NAB have already offered additional leaves for victims earlier.

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