Centrica has introduced domestic abuse guidelines to create a safe and respectful working environment and support colleagues' health and well-being. The company has also adopted Online Safe Spaces, so customers experiencing or impacted by domestic abuse can access specialist support and information.
The guidelines were spearheaded by Centrica Women's Network, who, after seeing the number of domestic abuse cases rise significantly during the lockdown, recognised this serious issue would also be affecting colleagues, many of whom could be suffering in silence.
According to the latest Crime Survey for England and Wales[i], an estimated 5.5 per cent of adults (2.3 million people) experienced domestic abuse in the last year. Centrica estimates that around 1,000 colleagues and about 374,000 customers could be in the same position based on the national picture.
The guidelines, developed in consultation with Hestia, a charity that aims to prevent domestic abuse, includes topics such as tackling assumptions about who may be impacted by domestic abuse; common signs that could be displayed by those who are experiencing domestic abuse; how to support remote workers and links to internal and external sources of help and training. The company is mindful that domestic abuse can affect everyone, that it is a complex issue and impacts communities in varying ways. So the guidelines are designed to be inclusive.
Crucially, the guidelines detail the different ways in which Centrica can support colleagues to be safe from abuse whilst at work, including changing work telephone numbers, email addresses and providing appropriate flexible working arrangements. The company has also adopted ‘Ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately)’, a codeword scheme, pronounced Annie, developed to provide those experiencing domestic abuse quick access to support. If a colleague ever needs a place of safety or urgent assistance, they can visit any open Centrica office in the UK and Ireland and ask for ANI.
Centrica is also providing help to customers and has added the Online Safe Spaces logo to its British Gas and Hivehome websites, enabling customers experiencing domestic abuse to access specialist support and information by clicking on the Safe Spaces logo on the homepage. The Safe Spaces webpage does not appear on the internet browsing history and has a quick exit function.
Managers and HR teams at Centrica can call Hestia’s Respond to Abuse helpline, so they can better support colleagues affected by domestic abuse.
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