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Peabody has announced it will provide up to 70 hours of paid leave for employees experiencing domestic abuse.
The new policy is included in the London-based landlord’s new ‘Domestic Abuse in the Workplace’ document, which helps employees to identify possible domestic abuse and gives staff and line managers signs to look out for, as well as a range of other resources.
Staff experiencing domestic abuse will be able to take paid leave for example to attend appointments and court hearings, provide childcare, move house or seek other professional help.
Employers in places including New Zealand, the Philippines and parts of Canada are legally bound to provide this kind of support to staff, however this is currently not a requirement for businesses in the UK.
The UK government is currently calling for evidence on this as part of a review of employment rights for survivors of domestic abuse.
Alongside Gentoo, Peabody is one of the founding members of the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA), which attempts to improve the housing sector’s response to domestic abuse.
In addition to the paid leave provision, Peabody’s new policy said it will be flexible with annual leave and working hours for those experiencing domestic abuse.
The landlord will also help ensure arrangements are in place so that those experiencing domestic abuse can travel safely to and from work, alongside enabling re-deployment or relocation.
With the employee’s consent, Peabody will advise colleagues of the individual’s situation on a need-to-know basis and agree a response if the perpetrator contacts the workplace.
The association is also open to reviewing how an employee experiencing domestic abuse’s salary is paid and will consider alternative solutions.
The move was welcomed by domestic abuse commissioner Nicole Jacobs, she said: “We all have a role to play in responding to domestic abuse, which still affects over two million adults every year.
“Whether as employers, service providers, friends or neighbours, it is vital that survivors are supported effectively and sensitively. Peabody has shown such important leadership in highlighting the role of housing in responding to domestic abuse as a founding member of DAHA, and I am delighted to see Peabody offering their own staff 70 hours of paid leave for survivors. I would like to see more employers following their example.”
Natalie Blagrove, domestic abuse lead at Peabody, said: “As a founding member of DAHA, Peabody has always recognised the crucial role that the housing sector has in ending abuse.
“In addition to supporting our tenants and residents, however, we also recognise the need to make sure our own workforce is supported in a safe and effective way.
“Providing employees with paid time off is just one part of our internal response, but one that we hope will increase people’s confidence to seek help and stay safe.”