During Shine’s Light It Orange campaign week (March 3-9), Stuff became the first media company to get a DVFREE Tick from Shine.
Stuff CEO Sinead Boucher says: “While New Zealand may be socially-forward in other areas, our domestic violence rates are absolutely shocking. At Stuff, we’ve been supporting staff in need behind the scenes for many years, so we’re proud to get the DVFREE Tick and let our people know loud and clear to seek help if and when they should ever need it.”
Stuff has been supporting staff by offering 10 days’ paid leave to help with domestic violence-related issues since March 2017 – over and above the government requirement coming into force on 1 April to provide 10 days’ unpaid leave as part of the Domestic Violence Victims’ Protection Act 2018.
Ali Mau’s March 6th column talked about steps taken by Stuff, with support from Shine, to introduce their comprehensive staff domestic violence programme. Ali also shares the story of a Stuff employee to illustrate why the programme is needed and how much difference positive workplace support can make for someone in crisis.
**TRIGGER WARNING** On the night it all ended, she was certain she would die as he came home drunk, woke her up and threw her around the apartment. When she was able to escape she drove straight to her mum’s place and as dawn broke and the police had been and gone, she called her boss and said I can’t come in today, something bad’s happened….