More than just a document; why a domestic abuse policy is crucial for all organisations, regardless of your headcount
25th November 2025 14:30
.jpg)
Physical. Mental. Economic. Digital. These are just some of the many different forms of domestic abuse experienced by an estimated 1 in 4 adults in the UK*. Domestic abuse can affect all genders and generations, all social demographics and job titles – there are no exceptions to the rule.
This startling statistic highlights just how pervasive the problem of domestic abuse is within our society. It may not be overtly visible, as many of the signs can go undetected, but the chances are someone you know – or work with - is currently experiencing some form of life-affecting abuse.
And when it comes to the work-place, the statistics mean that even micro-businesses - with just 1 to 9 employees - could have one or more individuals affected by this growing problem. Yet staggeringly, only 1 in 20 employers are thought to have a formal policy on domestic abuse in place**.
With the scale of domestic abuse increasing, and digital technologies making it easier for abusers to harm and torment their victims even when they are not with them, it’s an issue that far exceeds the confines of abusive relationships. Domestic abuse is the responsibility of society as a whole and at DJS Research we are committed to ensuring our partners are both well informed and supported on these vital matters.
This time last year we shared news of our support for White Ribbon UK, a charity which works to engage men and boys to prevent male violence against women and girls. This was just the start of our journey. Over the last 12 months our domestic abuse ambassador and White Ribbon Champion Julie Hollingsworth has worked closely with our HR manager Lucy Pawson and mental health first-aiders Alex Noden and Matt Bristow to develop our own DJS Research Domestic Abuse Policy. This has been communicated business wide through an all-company meeting and support information has been shared throughout the year and is available for all partners to access on our internal intranet.
Speaking about our new policy, Julie highlighted why she feels it is vital for all organisations to think seriously about the impact domestic abuse could be having on their employees and why a policy of this kind is so important;
“Given how prevalent domestic abuse is across the UK, I was quite shocked to hear that so few organisations have a formal policy in place.
Victims and survivors can often suffer abuse over an extremely long period of time, which may continue years after a relationship has ended. For many reasons, they may find it difficult to talk to others - including their employer - about what they are experiencing, but it will undoubtedly be having a negative impact on their mental and physical wellbeing.
In the most severe cases abuse victims maybe juggling work and parental responsibilities alongside the involvement of multiple agencies such as the police, social care and the courts. It’s therefore so important that employers try to create an environment, and a culture, where employees feel safe and are able to speak up, if they want to or need to, and seek the support they need.”
Julie Hollingsworth, Research Director and Domestic Abuse Ambassador
"Alongside the development of our domestic abuse policy, Julie, Alex and Matt also took part in a training course delivered by The Survivors Trust - a national membership organisation supporting specialist rape and sexual abuse services in the voluntary sector. In partnership with the Home Office, The Survivors Trust offers a free, CPD-accredited training programme designed to help employers create supportive, trauma-informed workplaces for staff affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence. Our team found this course invaluable and both Alex and Matt share their thoughts and key takeouts from what sounded like an incredibly powerful series of sessions below.
The course we attended was delivered over the course of 3 x 3 hour training blocks, and was excellent both in its content and its delivery. To have such excellent training, accessible to our organisation entirely free of charge, was incredible. It was an invaluable resource, and the knowledge we gained has given us the tools to become Domestic Abuse Ambassadors within our business, so that we can support those affected by these issues. I would highly recommend this course to other organisations looking to increase levels of support to their employees.”
Alex Noden, Research Support Team Manager, Mental-Health First-aider and Domestic Abuse Ambassador
"Taking part in The Survivors Trust training was a real eye-opener for me. As a mental health first aider at DJS Research I felt I had a solid degree of understanding about the impacts of domestic abuse, but the training brought to life not only its complexities but also the scale and breadth of victim experience. It really brought it home how less-visible acts of domestic abuse can be just as harrowing as those that can be ‘seen’ and how things can so often escalate after someone finds the courage to leave an abusive partner. Hearing about the experiences of parents and carers who had suffered abuse from children in their care was another strand of abuse in which I had no prior knowledge.
I really cannot recommend this training enough and obtaining this level of insight and understanding has been invaluable for DJS Research as we have crafted and launched our domestic abuse policy – something I feel all organisations should absolutely have in place."
Matt Bristow, Research Director, Mental-Health First-aider and Domestic Abuse Ambassador
The launch of our domestic abuse policy, and ongoing comms on this matter, helps further strengthen our commitment to prioritising the safety and wellbeing of our employee Partners, encouraging open dialogue to help break the silence.
As we publish this article today, on 25th November, it is White Ribbon Day which is a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on the important issue of male violence against women. However, the need to support both victims and survivors of all abuse, and to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of any form, is a 365-days-a-year task.
Having a clear domestic abuse policy is vital if you want to create a safe, open and supportive workplace culture built on mutual respect.
If your organisation doesn’t have a policy in place, now is the time to ask yourself “why not?”.
*Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) updated research May 2025. New survey questions introduced domestic abuse revealed an estimated 1 in 4 (26.1%) people aged 16 years and over have experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16 years, (equivalent to 12.6 million people).
** EIDA Vision Conference; Domestic abuse, why it’s a workplace issue and what employers can do about it (2024)
