FairWork Commission releases employer guide to family and domestic violence

The FairWork Commission have released a guide for employers, designed to support them to understand their responsibilities towards employees who are experiencing family and domestic violence.

Employees in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector are especially vulnerable to family and domestic violence, owing to the high proportion of female employees in the sector, relative to other sectors and industries. 

Statistics from White Ribbon Australia suggest that one in four women has experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner since the age of 15, one in five women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15, and almost 40 per cent of women continue to experience violence from their partner while temporarily separated. 

The Commission noted that when employees are living with family and domestic violence, they often experience heightened financial stress, homelessness, isolation and vulnerability.

The guide, and associated knowledge, awareness and planning can help employers support their employees, meet their workplace obligations and protect their workplaces.

The main elements covered in the Guide are; 

• the role of the Fair Work Ombudsman and how they can support

• a checklist for managing family and domestic violence issues in the workplace

• what family and domestic violence is and how it affects workplaces

• employers’ legal obligations

• a suggested approach to supporting employees and developing a workplace response to family and domestic violence

• support and referral services

To download the Employer guide to family and domestic violence please see here. 

Further support resources include the Workplace family and domestic violence checklist a short version of the Employer guide to family and domestic violence and a list of support services for people impacted by family and domestic violence .