Conference heard some delegates’ emotional accounts of personal experiences of domestic abuse and how their employer had treated them, some good and some not so good. Conference backed a call for the introduction of proper support schemes in all workplaces through legislation.
 
Speaking to the Usdaw Annual Delegate Meeting in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Paddy Lillis - Usdaw Deputy General Secretary said: “We know that the effects of domestic violence don't remain at home when the person experiencing it leaves for work. They spill over into the workplace by impacting on mental health, sickness absence, punctuality and productivity.
 
“Although some employers may be sympathetic to employees who are experiencing abuse they are currently under no obligation to provide any kind of paid options or support. We believe there is no appetite amongst employers to do this. Therefore, the only way to achieve this is through legislation to provide greater workplace support.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest trade union with nearly 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion