[Ireland] 10 days paid leave for AIB employees experiencing domestic abuse

In Ireland, AIB (Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c.) is to offer employees who have suffered domestic violence or abuse 10 days of paid leave per year while making the bank’s security services available to those affected, The Irish Times reports.

As part of its commitment to provide a more supportive workplace, the bank said it was expanding its practical supports for domestic abuse victims.

In addition to the paid leave, the bank reportedly said it would now offer affected employees five days’ paid emergency hotel accommodation; security assistance to ensure their personal safety on the way to, from and at work; counselling services; and, where required, the option of a salary advance to assist financially.

“Colleagues can also avail of in-house vulnerable customer supports to help ensure their financial independence,” AIB said.

The lender’s chief people officer Geraldine Casey said the bank’s policy was influenced by the experiences of a staff member who was a previous victim of domestic violence and who was “now working to improve supports for vulnerable customers”.

“As one of Ireland’s largest employers, we want to show our commitment to stand with colleagues experiencing domestic violence and to ensure that we are creating a culture that keeps the wellbeing of our people to the forefront,” Ms Casey said, noting the bank was committed to playing its part in supporting colleagues and customers impacted “by this sensitive societal issue”.

Roderic O’Gorman - Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth - praised AIB for taking this step. “The Government has made tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence a priority, and last month the Oireachtas passed the Work-Life Balance Act, which will provide statutory entitlement to paid domestic violence leave.

“We know that the response to domestic violence needs to be an all-of-society approach and that is why it is so encouraging to see large employers like AIB taking the initiative and providing such strong support to their employees.” 

AIB reportedly said the expanding range of policies for its 9,590-strong workforce also includes several enhancements to its family leave offering over the past year intended to improve working parents’ work-life balance.

The new policies include seven weeks’ fully paid parents’ leave, 10 days of fertility leave per year for employees undergoing treatment and two days off for colleagues whose partners are having treatment. In addition, it offers surrogacy leave and compassionate leave for colleagues who experience loss of pregnancy at any stage regardless of whether it directly happens to them, their partner or a surrogate.

Source: The Irish Times

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Ireland, AIB (Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c.) is to offer employees who have suffered domestic violence or abuse 10 days of paid leave per year while making the bank’s security services available to those affected, The Irish Times reports.

As part of its commitment to provide a more supportive workplace, the bank said it was expanding its practical supports for domestic abuse victims.

In addition to the paid leave, the bank reportedly said it would now offer affected employees five days’ paid emergency hotel accommodation; security assistance to ensure their personal safety on the way to, from and at work; counselling services; and, where required, the option of a salary advance to assist financially.

“Colleagues can also avail of in-house vulnerable customer supports to help ensure their financial independence,” AIB said.

The lender’s chief people officer Geraldine Casey said the bank’s policy was influenced by the experiences of a staff member who was a previous victim of domestic violence and who was “now working to improve supports for vulnerable customers”.

“As one of Ireland’s largest employers, we want to show our commitment to stand with colleagues experiencing domestic violence and to ensure that we are creating a culture that keeps the wellbeing of our people to the forefront,” Ms Casey said, noting the bank was committed to playing its part in supporting colleagues and customers impacted “by this sensitive societal issue”.

Roderic O’Gorman - Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth - praised AIB for taking this step. “The Government has made tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence a priority, and last month the Oireachtas passed the Work-Life Balance Act, which will provide statutory entitlement to paid domestic violence leave.

“We know that the response to domestic violence needs to be an all-of-society approach and that is why it is so encouraging to see large employers like AIB taking the initiative and providing such strong support to their employees.” 

AIB reportedly said the expanding range of policies for its 9,590-strong workforce also includes several enhancements to its family leave offering over the past year intended to improve working parents’ work-life balance.

The new policies include seven weeks’ fully paid parents’ leave, 10 days of fertility leave per year for employees undergoing treatment and two days off for colleagues whose partners are having treatment. In addition, it offers surrogacy leave and compassionate leave for colleagues who experience loss of pregnancy at any stage regardless of whether it directly happens to them, their partner or a surrogate.

Source: The Irish Times

(Quotes via original reporting)