Domestic and Sexual Abuse and Employees

As COVID19 has increased the strain on households and more people are working from home, there is a greater need for all of us to be aware of policies and support available to employees who may be experiencing domestic abuse. This guidance should inform employers in all sectors to undertake a duty of care to ensure they can identify behaviours indicating possible domestic abuse and offer support. Useful resources are included below:

SafeLives: Advice for employers on supporting their employees at home


PHE Domestic Abuse Toolkit


Sheffield City Council Domestic Abuse Policy – September 20 (final)

Further information for businesses about responsible conduct can be found on the Business in the Community website here. They have specific guidance regarding supporting employees who are experiencing domestic abuse, which can be found here.

Alternatively, Trade Union Congress (TUC) offer guidance for employees who wish to seek support from their employers. Or, if you’d like to know how to help a colleague or employee, you can read the following TUC post.

If you’ve experienced sexual harassment at work, there is guidance available for you to seek support. The following guides are useful from:

ACAS, who offer information about what constitutes sexual harassment, and what your choices are if you are subject to harassment.

Equality and Human Rights Commission, who offer further guidance about the support available to individuals who experience harassment in the workplace.