Fórsa has welcomed the introduction of a new domestic violence and abuse workplace policy in the local government sector.

Head of Local Government and Local Services and Municipal Employees’ Divisions Richy Carrothers said the introduction of this long overdue policy will make significant strides in creating a supportive workplace environment.

“We welcome efforts by the sector to better help employees experiencing domestic violence and abuse, but it is long overdue,”he said.

Fórsa had provided feedback to the Local Government Management Agency on the draft policy, some of which has been incorporated into the new procedures.

“Some of our recommendations have been incorporated into the policy - we believe that local authorities must establish a robust and responsive working environment for addressing domestic violence and abuse in the workplace and become an employer of choice by displaying commitment to improving the lives of its workers,” said Richy.

He also acknowledged the inclusive nature of the scope of the policy and its applicability that recognises the diverse experiences of individuals affected by these issues, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, or other demographic factors.

“We welcome the inclusive policy statement that acknowledges that domestic violence and abuse can adversely affect all workers; women, men, non-binary persons and people of diverse gender identities and expressions. Much more can and must be done and to that end, we will ensure the adherence to the policy and to strive for improvements in order to achieve best practice and the maximum support for workers in the sector,” he said

The full Domestic Violence and Abuse policy can be found here.

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