Tesco introduces paid domestic abuse leave for staff

Tesco has introduced a new paid leave policy for employees experiencing domestic abuse.
The supermarket is offering colleagues up to three days, or 21 hours, of paid “Safe Leave” to help them take practical steps to protect themselves and their families.

The leave can be used for things including attending court hearings, finding emergency accommodation, changing locks, arranging childcare or dealing with finances.

Employees will not be required to provide formal evidence of domestic abuse to access the leave.

Tesco has also trained managers across its business to recognise signs of domestic abuse and provide appropriate support when a colleague asks for help.

The policy has been introduced in partnership with Usdaw, Tesco’s largest recognised union, and comes during Domestic Abuse Awareness Month.

Tesco says it hopes the scheme will help remove some of the barriers people can face when trying to leave or manage an abusive situation.