Allied Irish Banks (AIB) has expanded its support for employees experiencing domestic violence, as part of its commitment to provide a safe and supportive work environment.
The bank, which has 9,590 employees, introduced 10 days of fully paid leave per year for staff experiencing domestic violence and abuse, and five days of paid emergency hotel accommodation. It also committed to providing security assistance to ensure employees’ personal safety on the way to, from and at work, as well as counselling services, the option of a salary advance to assist financially, and in-house vulnerable customer supports to help ensure financial independence.
According to the bank, it made tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence a priority following the introduction of the Work Life Balance Act by the Oireachtas last month, which provides statutory entitlement to paid domestic violence leave.
Geraldine Casey, chief people officer at Allied Irish Banks, said: “As one of Ireland’s largest employers, we want to show our commitment to stand with employees experiencing domestic violence and to ensure that we are creating a culture that keeps the wellbeing of our people to the forefront. The enhancements to our policy provide important practical supports and build on the resources that we already have in place.
“Our policy has been informed by the experience of a staff member who was a victim of domestic violence and is now working to improve supports for vulnerable customers. We are committed to continue to play our part to support both employees and customers impacted by this sensitive societal issue.”
Over the past year, AIB enhanced its family leave policies to improve work-life balance for its working parents. This included providing seven weeks of fully paid parents leave, 10 days of fertility leave per year for employees undergoing treatment and two days for staff whose partners are having treatment. It also introduced surrogacy leave and compassionate leave for workers who experience pregnancy loss at any stage, regardless of whether it occurs to them, their partner or a surrogate.