MARTYN ANWYL: TACKLING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
IS IT PART OF YOUR WELLNESS PROGRAMME?
Asking an organisation to consider focussing on building greater awareness about domestic violence (DV) as well as its prevention, as one area of their health and wellness programme, often raises concerns. “That’s a HR issue” or “we don’t have an issue with domestic violence here” or “what happens outside of the office is not our concern,” are common reactions.
Whether it is factored in or not will depend on an organisation’s awareness of the impact of DV in the workplace, and what it is they are trying to achieve through their wellness programmes. Those offering basic wellness schemes which include a bowl of fruit or a cycle to work scheme may not be able to encompass the wider, less comfortable issues of wellness such as domestic violence or bullying.
