17/11/2014

Council Wins Gold Award For Supporting Workers Affected By Domestic Violence

The importance of employers providing support to staff living with domestic and sexual abuse has been highlighted by Belfast's Lord Mayor.

Councillor Nichola Mallon was speaking at the Workplace Charter on Domestic Violence awards in City Hall where the council picked up a gold award in recognition of its commitment to supporting employees who may be affected by domestic violence.

According to recent statistics, one in four women and one in nine men will suffer from domestic abuse in their lifetime.

Speaking at the event, Lord Mayor, Councillor Nichola Mallon, said: "These statistics cannot be ignored and the workplace has a responsibility to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees and to support and assist those who may be experiencing problems in this area."

The awards, which are delivered by specialist training agency Onus, recognise that organisations have fulfilled a number of criteria including effectively communicating to staff on its workplace policy, assigning a designated spokesperson in the organisation to receive specialist training, as well as having sufficient employees trained across the organisation, ensuring adequate support within the workplace for employees.

This is the council's second consecutive gold award since launching its workplace policy on domestic violence and abuse in October 2012.

(CD/JP)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

22 March 2017
Invest NI To Host Trade Mission To Poland And Czech Republic
Invest NI are to host a Trade Mission visit to Poland and the Czech Republic from 05 – 09 June, 2017, offering participants to take advantage of the business opportunities within the region. The five day mission will visit Warsaw and Prague, however participants will have the option to travel outside these cities.
26 May 2010
Unstable Property Market Delays Revaluation
Instability in the local commercial property market has prompted a delay in a planned revaluation of business properties.
20 August 2001
UK trade deficit widens
The UK's trade deficit reached a monthly record of £2.3bn in June, pushing the second quarter deficit to a record £6.2bn, up from £5bn in the previous quarter. The deficit in global trade in goods meanwhile widened to £3.2bn in June from £2.5bn in May.
22 November 2018
Guidance On Domestic and Sexual Abuse Developed For Employers
New guidance on how employers can increase awareness and respond more effectively to domestic and sexual violence and abuse has been produced by the Department of Health and Department of Justice.
07 November 2002
Bank of England holds UK interest rate at 4%
The Bank of England has held the main UK interest rate at 4% for the twelfth consecutive month. This is despite a larger than anticipated cut by the US Federal Reserve. Leading economists were split on whether or not interest rates would or should be dropped.