Domestic abuse hit the headlines in 2020 as reported incidence spiked to 2.4 million, with the United Nations declaring it an emergency. In January 2021, Business Minister Paul Scully made a ‘call to action’ to all UK employers to do more to help their colleagues who may be the victims of domestic abuse.
In this recording, our Partner Emma Bartlett is joined by expert on economic abuse as it occurs within the context of coercive control, Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs OBE (Founder and CEO of charity Surviving Economic Abuse), safety and technology specialist Mikkel Dissing (CEO of Pan!cGuard Ltd), to discuss employers’ obligations to help colleagues who are victims of domestic abuse as part of existing health and safety legislation.
The panel discusses the following topics:
- The proactive rather than reactive nature of Health and Safety obligations on employers
- The new Domestic Abuse Act 2021, including a definition of “economic abuse”
- Why is education on “economic abuse” so important for employers?
- How can the Pan!cGuard app provide help to those suffering from domestic abuse?
- Recommendations for employers on how to make the Pan!cGuard app available to staff
Speakers:
Emma Bartlett, Partner, CM Murray LLP (Chair) – Specialist in Employment and Partnership Law
Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs OBE, Founder and CEO, Surviving Economic Abuse – Specialist in economic abuse in the context of coercive control
Mikkel Dissing, CEO, Pan!cGuard Ltd – Specialist in Safety and Technology
If you have any questions arising from this alert, or for specific legal advice on particular circumstances, please contact our Partner Emma Bartlett, who specialises in employment and partnership issues for multinational employers, senior executives, partnerships and partners.
Read our Little Book of Employment Law here.
CM Murray LLP is ranked in Band 1/Tier 1 by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for Employment (Senior Executives), ‘“they’re top-notch lawyers and are very knowledgeable, dedicated and reliable. The team is particularly business-minded and operates with an international mindset, meaning that they are very comfortable with cross-border issues.” (Chambers and Partners UK 2021).
