EIDA Ambassador Charlotte Budd draws on her own experience in the film industry to raise questions about how we can better respond to domestic abuse among people who are self-employed.
Charlotte’s Story
In 2018 I left my husband after he was arrested one night. He had come home drunk and verbally and physically attacked me. My daughter was only a few months old at the time.
Before having my daughter, I worked in the TV and film industry. I worked on locations, and that’s also how I met my former husband. Most people working in TV and film are self-employed and are subcontracted. Production will hire a locations company which will then ask people if they want to take on a particular job.
Challenges of returning to work
I loved my job as it was creative, exciting and always different. But I always knew it would be tricky going back.
My abuser worked in the same industry. I was very aware that I could possibly go to work one day and bump into him on set. There would be no way of knowing beforehand if he would be working on the same job. This is something that I was worried and scared about.
Surviving abuse in a complex industry
Film sets are vast and complex with many different departments, sometimes with hundreds of people working together. This can make it hard to know who to go to with a disclosure about domestic abuse or a concern about another staff member.
It would be great to see this industry and others that function in a similar way tackle this issue. Ultimately, I believe that there should be a process for everyone (irrespective of the nature of their contract) where they can approach someone for help and access somewhere safe.
Additional risks for self-employed staff
Whether relying on contract or freelance work, those who are self-employed already live on an unpredictable income. Financial pressure can make fleeing an abusive relationship even more challenging.
Temporary workers may also lack regular day-to-day contact with colleagues and managers which means it may be harder for others to notice the signs of domestic abuse or for trust to be built that might lead to a disclosure. It is important to be aware that anyone in any industry might be affected by domestic abuse and that it is everyone’s business to support them.
Questions for employers to consider
Around 13% of the UK’s workforce is self-employed.
If your business involves people who are self-employed, it is worth considering the following questions:
- Is there a clearly designated person or group of people whom anyone in your business affected by domestic abuse can approach to discuss their individual situation?
- Is everyone in your business aware that there is support and who they can approach?
- How do your policies and communications about domestic abuse affect those in your workplace who are self-employed?
- How can you support a culture change in your industry to break down the wall of silence around domestic abuse and make working environments safer for victims and survivors?
If you, as an employer, have experience to share based on working with people who are self-employed or if you have insight on tackling domestic abuse in working industries like those discussed here, then please get in touch: support@eida.org.uk.
Read more insights for employers from survivors of domestic abuse
Resource created: May 2023
