Domestic Abuse Costs U.K. Companies £316 Million A Year, KPMG Report Says

A new report from KPMG commissioned by Vodafone demonstrates the scale and impact of domestic abuse in the workplace. This report follows an initiative launched earlier this year by Vodafone to tackle domestic abuse by providing support for victims and managers.

Over the last twelve months, 80 million working women across 107 countries have experienced domestic violence and abuse; in other words, 15% of the female workforce. The numbers are likely to be even higher due to cases of not-reporting abuse.

While work can provide a refuge from dealing with the emotional fall-out of abuse, in reality, the impact has detrimental effects on women both and especially on their ability to achieve and rewarding and successful career. In the U.K., with the spotlight on gender inequality in the workplace is very focused on the gender pay gap and the uneven progress of women in leadership positions, the discussion needs to take a more nuanced approach to understand and address the underlying factors.

Just over half a million (574,000) working women have experienced domestic violence and abuse over the last twelve months. Among this group, 122,000 have taken time off work due to domestic abuse. The average length of unplanned leave for women experiencing domestic violence is approximately 10 days. In the U.K., the potential loss of earnings per woman each year is estimated to be £5,800 as a result of absences related to abuse. Creating a space for victims to talk about domestic abuse, the critical first step in helping organizations creating support for individuals. Domestic abuse is endemic irrespective of class, race, education, and this bind makes it even more difficult for women to talk about their experiences and ask for help.

Melissa Chester, business psychologist, states: “Domestic abuse can happen to anyone. It is possible for successful and independent people to be financially and psychologically controlled by a partner, and because this form of abuse is much harder to spot, companies need to be aware and know how to respond.”

Chester goes on to emphasize the crucial role companies play in providing support for victims: “What is very significant about domestic abuse is that the workplace could be the one safe place and sanctuary for a victim.” She cites examples of support through EAP and signposting to legal advice as vital lifelines for victims.

Irrespective of the reason, when a team member drops their productivity, the ramifications lead to the rest of the team picking up extra work. However, talking about domestic abuse remains incredibly tricky. While a great deal of work has made it easier to discuss challenges around mental health in the workplace, there is a need for a lot more awareness around this area.

The financial cost of domestic abuse is estimated to be around £316 million, lost by U.K. businesses each year as a result of work absences related to domestic abuse. Inevitably the impact is likely to be more significant. Chester states: “Sadly, the lack of career progression and premature resignations are commonplace for victims of domestic abuse, both of which could be prevented with the right interventions from the employer so that talent is nurtured, developed, and retained.”

The situation demands attention above and beyond doing the right thing to ensuring adequate resources, training, and support are in place to protect victims. Awareness and policies are creating the conditions for individuals to feel more comfortable in sharing their experiences and requesting help. Inevitably the most critical factor is based on nurturing an environment of support, wellbeing and building trust and respect among colleagues Companies sharing their experiences, resources, and implementing solutions create a clear statement of support for victims and across teams that this is an area of attention.

Leanne Wood, chief human resources officer at Vodafone and Trustee of the Vodafone Foundation, emphasizes the support provisions offered by the company: “At Vodafone we offer paid safe leave, giving employees a chance to seek professional help during work hours. Bright Sky and other apps against abuse show how technology for good can reach millions of people around the global offering localized help and advice.”

Bright Sky is an app created by the Vodafone Foundation working in partnership with the U.K.-based crisis support charity Hestia, enables users to locate their nearest support services by searching their area, postcode, or current location. Since its launch in the U.K., Bright Sky has been downloaded almost 25,000 times. The international rollout of Bright Sky builds on more than a decade’s work by the Vodafone Foundation to develop mobile services to support victims of domestic violence and abuse. Close to a million people have benefitted from the services, including: the TecSOS technology, which has helped more 100,000 high-risk survivors of domestic violence in five countries; Easy Rescue, which has supported over 300,000 women in Turkey; and gender-based violence hotlines in South Africa and Kenya, which have connected over 500,000 victims to help during crisis.

The focus on domestic abuse will continue to grow, in particular as domestic abuse is one of the areas of focus as part of the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. To address this issue, the UN Secretary-General will promote a two-year campaign focusing on preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls.

Companies can’t solve this complex problem, but they can create a route to bring greater awareness, trust, and respect in creating a sanctuary for women to seek help. And, in doing so, they’d help remove the stigma that keeps domestic violence hidden.

Source: Forbes.com

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