Domestic violence has long been treated as a private matter, something that happens behind closed doors and stays there. But the reality is very different. The effects of domestic violence follow people into the workplace every single day, and organisations that fail to recognise this are letting their people down.
With Ireland’s introduction of paid domestic violence leave in November 2023, the message from government is clear: this is a workplace issue. But legislation alone isn’t enough. If your organisation hasn’t invested in domestic violence training, you’re missing a critical piece of the puzzle.
The scale of the problem
The numbers are stark. One in seven women and one in seventeen men in Ireland have experienced severe domestic abuse from an intimate partner. Women’s Aid recorded a record number of domestic abuse disclosures in both 2023 and 2024. An Garda SÃochána responded to over 65,000 domestic abuse incidents in 2024 alone. This works out at roughly 1,250 incidents every single week. Safe Ireland estimates the cost of domestic violence to the Irish economy at €2.7 billion per year.
These aren’t just numbers. They represent real people, many of whom are sitting in your office, on your shop floor or logging in remotely every day.
Domestic violence is a workplace issue
Research consistently shows that domestic violence spills into the workplace. A study by the Vodafone Foundation found that 37% of workers surveyed had been subjected to domestic abuse, and of those, 94% reported a negative impact on their work. Separately, research from the US indicates that victims of domestic violence lose nearly 8 million days of paid work per year, with many experiencing anxiety, reduced concentration and fear while on the job.
For employers, this translates into higher absenteeism, reduced productivity, increased staff turnover and potential safety risks for the wider team. Ignoring the issue doesn’t make it go away. It just means the damage goes unchecked.
Why training matters
Ireland’s Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 gives employees the right to five days of paid domestic violence leave in any twelve month period. But having the legislation in place is only the first step. Managers need to know how to respond when someone discloses abuse. Colleagues need to understand the signs. HR teams need to feel confident handling these sensitive situations. And everyone in the organisation needs to understand that domestic violence is not something to be whispered about or ignored.
Good training helps people to recognise the warning signs of domestic abuse. They should learn how to respond with empathy and confidence when someone discloses. It should help them understand their legal obligations as employers and managers, signpost to appropriate support services. Training helps create a workplace culture where people feel safe enough to speak up.
Without this knowledge, well meaning colleagues might say the wrong thing. Managers might inadvertently make things worse and victims might never feel safe enough to seek help. A study by The Hotline found that 79% of victims said domestic violence made it harder for them to work, yet 53% didn’t tell their employer for fear of discrimination, job loss or retaliation.
Creating a culture of support
Domestic violence training isn’t just a box ticking exercise to comply with legislation. It’s about building a workplace culture where people feel genuinely supported. When organisations take this seriously, they send a powerful message: we see this, we understand it and we’re here to help.
This matters because for many victims, the workplace is one of the few spaces where they have some independence from their abuser. It can be a lifeline. But only if the people around them know how to help.
We offer an online domestic violence awareness course. It is designed to give your team the knowledge and confidence they need. The course covers the different forms of domestic abuse, how to recognise the signs, how to respond appropriately when someone discloses and what supports are available. It’s built for flexible delivery, so your staff can complete it at their own pace, wherever they are.
Whether you’re looking to meet your obligations under the new legislation, upskill your managers or roll out awareness training across your entire organisation, our course provides a practical and accessible solution.
