Tesco Launches Paid “Safe Leave” for Domestic-Abuse Victims

Tesco, the United Kingdom’s largest private-sector employer with roughly 300,000 staff, announced a new “safe leave” entitlement that provides up to three days of paid time off. The leave can be taken flexibly for court appearances, securing emergency accommodation, changing locks, arranging childcare or separating finances. Managers have received training to recognise signs of abuse and to refer colleagues to specialist services. The policy was negotiated with the shopworkers’ union Usdaw and does not require employees to present formal evidence to access the leave.

The Guardian

Domestic-abuse prevalence remains high: more than 3 million people experienced abuse in England and Wales last year, according to the campaign group SafeLives, and one-in-four women are expected to encounter abuse in their lifetime (Refuge). Eight women are killed each month by a current or former partner, based on 2023 data. The Domestic Abuse Act, enacted in April 2021, introduced workplace protections for victims, allowing workplaces to serve as points of support. A private-member’s bill currently before Parliament seeks to extend paid leave to ten days nationwide. Northern Ireland already guarantees ten days of paid leave (2020), and similar statutes exist in Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. Earlier corporate examples include protected paid leave and training programmes at BP, Vodafone and several local councils.

The Guardian

Daniel Adams, a national officer for Usdaw, highlighted that domestic violence affects at least one in five women and urged other employers to adopt comparable measures.

The Guardian

• “Historically violence against women, and domestic violence in particular, has been hidden, excused and ignored. That needs to change.” — Emma Taylor, the chief people officer at Tesco

The Guardian

Analysts note that domestic-abuse costs the UK economy an estimated £78 billion annually (Refuge). By granting paid leave without demanding proof, Tesco aims to reduce the trade-off between job security and personal safety, potentially lowering absenteeism and supporting victim recovery. The initiative marks the first such policy among UK supermarkets and may set a benchmark for other large retailers.

Birmingham Mail