Business share best practice advice on domestic violence
28 July 2022
The Business Council looks forward to working with government to implement their plan to include 10 days of domestic and family violence leave in the National Employment Standards, Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott said.
"One woman is killed every nine days in Australia and many more experience all forms of abuse in the home, so this is a challenge for every Australian and for every workplace. The post-pandemic shift to increased working from home arrangements has made getting these policies right even more urgent.
“We recognise that for smaller businesses this change will be a challenge so we look forward to working with the government to get the implementation right.
“To support small and medium sized businesses developing the right policies and support for their workers experiencing family and domestic violence leave, the Business Council is also today releasing a best practice guide.
"I’m proud that many of Australia's largest employers have shown real leadership on this in recent years. The best practice guide has been informed by experts and the lived experience of victim-survivors of abuse and will help more workplaces ensure they are responding appropriately to keep employees safe at work and safe at home.
“This is a starting point for businesses that might be struggling to navigate this space and need additional information, but many are going much further including providing paid domestic violence leave together with other forms of support.
“We’re incredibly grateful that members like Commonwealth Bank, a leader in this space, have contributed their expertise to the development of the guide.
Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn said the bank has made a long-term commitment through its Next Chapter program to better support staff, customers and communities who are impacted by domestic and family violence.
“We all have a role to play in preventing abuse and the disrespect that ultimately leads to domestic and family violence, including how workplaces can support employees. As part of our commitment, we offer unlimited paid domestic and family violence leave to support our people through what can be incredibly challenging situations when they need it most. We’re continuing to build a culture that allows our people to feel properly supported to speak up and seek support," Mr Comyn said.
The Business Council’s best practice guide provides resources, information and some best practice guidance on how businesses can support their employees.