Domestic Abuse Briefing
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this briefing is to raise
awareness of the issue of Domestic Abuse and its impact
on the workplace. In Scotland, over 66 % of the membership
are women. As women are the main sufferers of domestic
abuse, then UNISON has a responsibility to ensure that
the effect of such abuse does not lead to them being further
discriminated in the workplace. This briefing sets out
the definition of domestic abuse, the nature and prevalence,
why it is a workplace issue and what UNISON needs to do
about it.
DOMESTIC ABUSE: WHAT IT IS:
THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION
:-
Domestic Abuse (as gender-based) can be
perpetrated by partners or ex-partners and can include
physical abuse (assault and physical attack involving
a range of behaviour), sexual abuse (acts which degrade
and humiliate and are perpetrated against their will,
including rape) and mental and emotional abuse (such as
threats, verbal abuse, racial abuse, withholding money
and other types of controlling behaviour such as isolation
from family and friends).
Domestic abuse is most commonly perpetrated
by men against women.
WHO EXPERIENCES DOMESTIC ABUSE
According to Scottish Women's Aid, any woman
can be abused, regardless of culture, class, age, sexual
orientation, disability ethnicity or creed.
Children and young people also experience
domestic abuse, either by seeing or hearing the abuse
or by being abused themselves.
NATURE AND PREVALENCE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE
It is difficult to know how many women
suffer domestic abuse, but research shows that it is widespread
and under reported and that the level of repeat victimisation
is high. It is estimated that between a quarter and a
third of all women in Scotland will experience it at some
point in their lives. Domestic abuse is associated with
broader inequalities in society; it is part of a range
of behaviours constituting male abuse of power and is
linked to other forms of violence such as rape and child
abuse. Abuse is likely to escalate in frequency and intensity
over time and may increase in at specific points in a
woman's life, such as during pregnancy and following the
birth of a child or at particular times such as when trying
to leave the relationship, separation or divorce. Domestic
abuse may have a damaging, sometimes life-threatening,
impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of a woman.
Why Domestic Abuse is a Workplace Issue
The effect of domestic abuse on a woman
will inevitably lead to problems for her in the workplace.
It will lead to: -
- An increase in sickness absence
- A decrease in productivity
- Poor work performance
There is also the additional problem that,
for complex reasons, the woman will be reluctant or unable
to tell work colleagues and managers what is happening
in her life. That is why it is essential for trade unions
and employers to produce a policy that addresses the issues
of domestic abuse and its impact on the workplace, but
that also is sensitive and supportive of the individual
suffering this abuse.
Workplace Policies on Domestic Abuse
UNISON has taken the lead in promoting the
issue of domestic abuse in the workplace and negotiating
workplace policies. The City of Edinburgh and Fife Council
branches already have policies in place.
- A workplace policy can include the following provisions:
-
- Ensuring employees confidentiality is protected
if they seek help
- Assurance for a woman suffering domestic abuse that
her job is secure
- Job flexibility, including special paid leave
- Provision of independent counselling during working
hours
- Information about local information and support
UNISON Scotland is currently preparing a
model policy, which should be with branches in the New
Year.
What Branches Can Do
Quite apart from starting to talk to employers
about negotiating a workplace policy, there are a number
of measures which branches can do to support women suffering
domestic abuse.
- Provide support through UNISON Welfare
- Training for UNISON activists on how to deal with
this issue
- Campaigning for better services for victims of domestic
violence, including training for public service workers
- Lobbying for government action to improve services
- Working with local agencies, i.e. Scottish Women's
Aid, Rape Crisis to raise public awareness
- Publicise UNISON's policy to all members.
For Further Information
UNISON Guide "Raise
the Roof on Domestic Abuse"
NOTE: This is a dwonload in Adobe Acrobat format.
If you do not have Acrobat, click on www.adobe.com
for a free download.
Scottish Women's Aid
2nd Floor 132 Rose St
Edinburgh EH2 3JD
Tel: 0131 226 6606
Fax: 0131 226 2996
Scottish Executive Abuse Helpline
0800 027 1234
0131 475 2373
Hemat-Gryffe Women's Aid
0141 353 0859
Shakti Women's Aid
0131 475 2399
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