RSA Insurance has introduced a new policy granting paid leave to employees dealing with issues of domestic abuse. Developed with resources from the Employers Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA), the policy builds on the domestic abuse guidelines first introduced by the company in 2021, and provides training to raise awareness in the workplace of domestic abuse, and help employees better support domestic abuse sufferers. As part of the policy, RSA will provide paid leave for employees who need to take time off to deal with issues relating to domestic abuse.

Gemma Jackson, head of diversity and inclusion at RSA, said the rise in domestic abuse cases during the pandemic prompted the company to take action. She said:

"Research has shown that the average employee in the UK will spend over 84,000 hours at work. This makes our workplace an important social environment and we firmly believe employers are responsible for ensuring workplaces are diverse and inclusive. We have seen the media reports on the surge of domestic abuse cases during the pandemic and that prompted us to think about what we can do to better support our employees.

“This policy is a first, company-wide step we’re taking and by publicising this launch, we hope to encourage other employers to review their guidelines and take the initiative to roll out similar policies. While in the UK, women are more likely to experience domestic abuse, we recognise that domestic violence can affect men, trans or non-binary identified individuals and can have a lasting impact on entire families. Recognising the destabilising impact living with domestic abuse can have, we wanted to do our part to create a safe space for everyone at RSA."

Research found there was a 33% increase in domestic violence reports during the first UK lockdown. Charity Women’s Aid has provided training to RSA’s Domestic Abuse Champions to help them support the business in signposting guidance and resources to victims.