As the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill makes its way through UK parliament, Gloucestershire charity the Hollie Gazzard Trust is voicing its support for the legislation.
The Hollie Gazzard Trust works with employers across Gloucestershire and beyond to help them achieve best practice when it comes to protecting their staff, providing everything from Active Bystander training to workshops on how to spot the signs of domestic abuse and coercive control.
It has found that employers which train staff on how to respond to domestic abuse and provide supportive environments for victims and survivors benefit from increased levels of staff retention, output and loyalty — but beyond the benefits to businesses, it prioritises victims' safety and believes 'no-one should have to choose between their wages and their safety'.
The charity sees tackling domestic abuse as a society-wide issue requiring an adequately funded strategy which includes action from public services, communities and workplaces — and is voicing its support for Gloucester MP, Alex McIntyre, who is campaigning to change the law so that domestic abuse victims are entitled to 10 days paid leave to make arrangements to keep themselves and their families safe.
He said: 'It’s absolutely fantastic to have the support of the Hollie Gazzard Trust on this incredibly important piece of legislation. There are far too many survivors of domestic abuse in Gloucester and across the country who find themselves worrying about their financial and employment security on top of everything else.
'My hope is that the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill would give survivors a sense of security at work whilst they deal with some of the complex and distressing results of domestic abuse. I’m really pleased that the Hollie Gazzard Trust has joined me in discussions with employers, unions, training organisations and other charities to explore how we can make this bill work in practice.'
While the Hollie Gazzard Trust understands the financial pressures facing businesses currently, it is urging employers to engage with the consultation process to ensure the legislation works for everyone involved.
The charity is encouraging anyone who wants to support the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill to contact their local MP to tell them why they think it's important.
