Now some of you may know I have a very big following on LinkedIn from winning young banker of the year and sharing my story on domestic abuse. One of my post received over 123,000 views. So why is there work places still not raising awareness on domestic abuse?

March end 2020 there was 2.3M UK adults that had experienced domestic abuse. Now that’s alot of people and let’s just presume around 90% of them work. What if their work doesn’t have a policy in place or talk about domestic abuse? They will then suffer in silence.

Over 2021 doing research and talking to many people I have come across workplaces saving lives. But I have also come across how work places don’t help and what does that lead to? Lack of productivity, employees off sick, not a great place to work etc, the list goes on.

I myself previously have had poor treatment and I believe it all depends who your manager is. But, if senior members of staff aren’t educated or given training on domestic abuse, then if they aren’t the empathetic type, how will we get anywhere?

I honestly believe, from my idea that won young banker of the year worldwide, that we can help sufferers and survivors experiencing domestic abuse by doing 3 things.

1) Raise Awareness. Like most workplaces do for mental health week/month. There is domestic abuse days that you can easily find on google. Advertise it through your staff platform with links to charities. Put posters up in toilet cubicles, each job of just printing them out. You never know when someone may need to see that! Share stories, okay not everyone wants to share and some workplaces may not know anyone. I shared my story and the amount of staff that came to me after to thank me as they had experienced it, it’s just so powerful. I even say, I will share my story to any work place, so use me!

2) Training. Once you have the awareness piece done, start training. Depending on your workplace and what sector you are in depends on what training you’ll need. However, just a basic training can last one hour. If you do that once a year, that’s enough to get everyone understanding. There are so many charities out there that will do training, some at such a small price. A small price to pay is nothing compared to one of your employees lives. If you need information, contact me I can recommend many people that do training!

3) Policy. Now you’ve raised the awareness, you’ve implemented the training, why don’t you put a policy in place. By law it’s not required but it’s best practise. I gave you the figure above on how many people suffer and that’s only people that disclose!! You’d have a sickness policy in place, why not a domestic abuse one? Again, many people are willing to help. I assisted with putting one into my workplace. The policy says what domestic abuse is, the types of abuse, the myths and what the workplace can do to help employees. Every work place will be different in what they can do, but flexible working and days off for court, police interviews, counselling – that can really help someone’s mental health. Again, I know people, use me and get a policy in place!

Now there’s the 3 points, easy! Come to me and I’ll help. If you are stuck on how to approach an employer, come to me and I’ll tell you how I did it. Also, as I’ve already come across, if you show them my LinkedIn and said I’ve had over 123,000 views they will want to do it too. Because why not? You may even get more positive business from it, Trusted and happy staff, what more do you want?