Domestic Violence Awareness Month
27 October 2020
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The Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse (the EIDA) has revealed that the legal sector is playing a powerful role in tackling all forms of domestic abuse. Seventeen law firms and legal organisations including leading global practices like Linklaters LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Hogan Lovells International LLP, as well as Gray’s Inn and The Supreme Court, are members of the increasingly influential EIDA, a business network that works with employers to tackle domestic abuse. |
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The Covid-19 crisis has thrown the issue of domestic abuse into sharp focus, as the shift to working from home removed the workplace as a safe reprieve for those experiencing domestic abuse. Calls to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, and visits to its website have risen exponentially during the crisis. Charities in the space have stepped up, with new schemes launched in response, including Safe Spaces, where those suffering can seek help at pharmacies, as well as expansion of existing tools, such as the BrightSky app. The Government have also taken steps to provide extra support for those experiencing domestic abuse, with the launch of their #YouAreNotAlone campaign signposting help available for victims in venues such as supermarkets.
The legal sector is not immune to the challenges of supporting staff during lockdown and beyond, and there has been widespread recognition of the increased onus on employers to provide support and protection for employers for whom home is not a safe place. The EIDA has provided targeted toolkits and signposting for its 400 strong membership, as well as facilitating exchanges of best practice, successful initiatives and policies through virtual networking meetings.
Linklaters LLP recently announced their new policy and package of support for employees experiencing domestic abuse, which is just one example of innovative and proactive large scale commitments being made by prominent employers.
David Martin, Global Diversity and Inclusion Partner at Linklaters, commented:
“During the Covid-19 pandemic it has become clearer than ever that employers have a role to play in tackling domestic abuse. Domestic abuse is a workplace issue. We have introduced a comprehensive package of support because we want to send a clear message to any of our people living with abuse that they are not alone, we care, and the help they need is available to them. We recognise that the legal sector can be a powerful voice in tackling domestic abuse and we are proud to be working with EIDA and playing our part.”