Swindon-based insurance giant Zurich has clinched the Outstanding Initiative of Support award at Cover Magazine’s Women in Protection and Health Awards. The accolade was given in recognition of Zurich’s exemplary domestic abuse policy, developed in partnership with Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service (SDASS).
Cover Magazine, a leading publication in the insurance sector, celebrates industry figures who enhance diversity and improve insurance access for women and their families through its Women in Protection and Health Awards.
The award-winning policy was crafted with expert guidance from SDASS, ensuring comprehensive support for employees experiencing domestic abuse. With the rise in remote working, Zurich’s policy addresses the increasing challenge of detecting abuse. To counter this, SDASS has conducted awareness sessions and bespoke training for Zurich staff, enabling them to identify signs of abuse and effectively support affected colleagues.
The policy extends its support to employees who may be perpetrators of domestic abuse and acknowledges the financial hurdles victims often face when trying to escape abusive situations.
Kate Rowland, Training and Business Development Manager at SDASS, commended Zurich’s efforts: “This is a great acknowledgement of the time and effort that Zurich has put into their policy to support their employees, as well as their commitment to making sure it covers all aspects of the issues and barriers that those experiencing domestic abuse may be facing. It’s wonderful to know that Zurich’s 4,500 employees across the UK have the right support in place to help them escape domestic abuse – and that’s the same whether they’re female or male, and if they’re in a mixed-sex or same-sex relationship.”
Rowland highlighted the pervasive issue of domestic abuse, affecting one in five people in their lifetime. She emphasised the importance of workplace support, stating, “Those experiencing domestic abuse can find it bewildering to know where to turn to find the help and support they need to escape. With one in five people experiencing domestic abuse in their lifetime, we hope to use our work with employers, both through training and policy advice, to reach as many people as possible so that they know what to do, where to find help, and that there is a way to stop domestic abuse.”
SDASS continues to provide tailored training and policy advice to businesses nationwide. More information about their services can be found at Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service or by contacting Kate Rowland at Kate.Rowland@swindonwomensaid.org.
