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📋 Toolbox Talk · Employment Rights

Domestic Abuse
at Work

Employer duties, time off rights, confidentiality, how to support colleagues and where to get urgent help.

✅ Verified July 2026📚 Domestic Abuse Act 2021 · ACAS🇬🇧 England, Wales & Scotlandukworkrights.co.uk

Understanding

What is domestic abuse?

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines domestic abuse as physical, emotional, coercive, economic or psychological abuse between intimate partners or family members
Domestic abuse affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men in their lifetime
It does not have to be physical — coercive control, financial abuse and stalking are all covered
Abuse can happen to anyone regardless of gender, age, sexuality, ethnicity or income
The workplace is often where abuse is most visible — patterns of calls, monitoring, turning up at work
Colleagues and managers are often the first to notice warning signs

⚠ Signs to look out for

Unexplained injuries or absences
Controlling calls or messages at work
Increased anxiety, withdrawal, poor concentration

At work

Employer duties and your workplace rights

Employers have a duty of care for employees' wellbeing — including situations of domestic abuse that affect work
ACAS guidance strongly recommends employers have a domestic abuse policy
You may be entitled to paid or unpaid leave to attend court hearings, move home, seek legal advice or attend appointments
Your employer should treat absence related to domestic abuse with sensitivity and confidentiality
New Zealand-style domestic abuse leave is advocated in the UK — some employers already offer it voluntarily

✅ Confidentiality

Anything you disclose to HR or a manager about domestic abuse should be treated as strictly confidential. Your employer should not share it without your consent except where there is an immediate safety risk.

💡 Practical adjustments

Your employer can help by: changing your work location or hours, withholding your address from company records, screening calls, and liaising with building security.

Urgent help

Getting support — for yourself or a colleague

If you are in immediate danger — call 999

Or use the Silent Solution: call 999 and press 5 if you cannot speak. Police will attend.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline — 0808 2000 247

Free, confidential, 24/7. Run by Refuge. Also available via web chat at nationaldahelpline.org.uk.

Talk to HR or a trusted manager

Ask what your employer's domestic abuse policy says. Request practical adjustments — confidentially. You do not have to give details if you don't want to.

Apply for a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO)

Police can apply for an emergency DVPO to remove an abuser from the home. You can also apply for a Non-Molestation Order through the courts.

Contact Citizens Advice or Shelter

For housing, financial and legal advice. Many local authorities have domestic abuse housing teams who can arrange emergency accommodation.

Urgent & free support

You are not
alone

Confidential support is available 24/7. Your workplace can help too.

National DA Helpline — 24/7

0808 2000 247

nationaldahelpline.org.uk

Men's Advice Line

0808 801 0327

mensadviceline.org.uk

Galop — LGBT+ abuse

0800 999 5428

galop.org.uk

Emergency services

999 (or 55 if silent)