A new service offering employers tailored domestic abuse policies and staff training has launched in response to the low number of organisations with formal measures in place.
Domestic abuse advocate and speaker Cheryl Sharp has introduced personalised support to help businesses protect employees who may be experiencing abuse.
Fewer than 5 percent of UK organisations currently have a domestic abuse policy. Yet one in four women and one in six men experience abuse and three quarters are targeted at work. The release notes that Sharp’s service aims to help employers close this gap by giving managers the skills to recognise warning signs, respond appropriately and create safer workplace cultures.
Sharp’s training, The Business Case for Supporting Survivors, deals with the forms abuse can take, signs that may be visible in the workplace, what an effective policy should include and how organisations can build environments where employees feel safe to disclose. Her approach draws on her own lived experience as well as practical business guidance.
‘Uncomfortable Truth’
Sharp said that abuse affected employees in every organisation. “The uncomfortable truth is that whether you have a policy in place or not, domestic abuse is already impacting your business,” she said. “Every workplace needs a robust policy that safeguards vulnerable employees and offers clear guidance for managers and colleagues.”
Sharp said the effects often extend into the working day. “Domestic abuse doesn’t stay at home. It follows people to work through constant phone calls, threatening messages, and the mental toll of living in survival mode. The effect on businesses is both significant and measurable.”
She added that organisations needed to embed awareness into daily practice. “To truly make a difference, organisations must embed domestic abuse awareness into their culture, leadership, and everyday practices.
“That means having a clear policy, training leaders, raising awareness company-wide and knowing how to connect people to specialist support. Most importantly, it’s about creating a workplace where disclosure is met with belief, compassion, and practical help.”
Why Workplaces Need Policies
Domestic abuse costs the UK economy £14 billion per year. For employers, the direct financial impact is £316 million through sick leave, lost wages, reduced productivity and time off. Without adequate support, some survivors feel forced to leave their job once the abuse begins to affect work performance.
A formal policy helps employees understand what support exists and how to access it. Education is presented as central to creating a culture of safety where concerns are taken seriously and colleagues know how to respond.
Sharp works with organisations to identify practical measures that protect staff and reduce risk. It can include flexible working arrangements, temporary changes to contact details or adjustments to workplace security. Training modules also outline how abuse can influence concentration, attendance and performance, helping managers spot early concerns.
A Lived Experience Perspective
Sharp’s advocacy is shaped by her own background. After leaving an abusive marriage in 2011 with no income, savings or support, she rebuilt her life and founded accountancy service Pink Pig Financials in 2014. Through her experience, she emphasises the role employers can play in supporting survivors to achieve stability and safety.
With only a small proportion of organisations holding domestic abuse policies, the launch of tailored guidance and training gives employers a route to strengthen wellbeing provision and ensure vulnerable staff are better protected.