17/11/2014

Council Wins Gold Award For Supporting Workers Affected By Domestic Violence

The importance of employers providing support to staff living with domestic and sexual abuse has been highlighted by Belfast's Lord Mayor.

Councillor Nichola Mallon was speaking at the Workplace Charter on Domestic Violence awards in City Hall where the council picked up a gold award in recognition of its commitment to supporting employees who may be affected by domestic violence.

According to recent statistics, one in four women and one in nine men will suffer from domestic abuse in their lifetime.

Speaking at the event, Lord Mayor, Councillor Nichola Mallon, said: "These statistics cannot be ignored and the workplace has a responsibility to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees and to support and assist those who may be experiencing problems in this area."

The awards, which are delivered by specialist training agency Onus, recognise that organisations have fulfilled a number of criteria including effectively communicating to staff on its workplace policy, assigning a designated spokesperson in the organisation to receive specialist training, as well as having sufficient employees trained across the organisation, ensuring adequate support within the workplace for employees.

This is the council's second consecutive gold award since launching its workplace policy on domestic violence and abuse in October 2012.

(CD/JP)

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