Nationwide Building Society has launched tailored support for employees and customers experiencing domestic abuse.
Following a successful pilot that began in 20 Welsh branches, the building society’s Safe Space initiative offers discreet support for anyone experiencing domestic abuse and a suitable environment for those needing to make calls to third-party experts and helplines. This will be rolled out nationally over the coming months.
Branch employees will receive specialised training to help those experiencing domestic abuse, which includes managing their finances, providing access to a specialist support team and other resources. Nationwide will also introduce specialised training for people managers, awareness sessions for employees, a toolkit to advise them on how to support those experiencing this, and a dedicated team of trained employees, known as Domestic Abuse Allies, to offer support to anyone impacted.
The building society has additionally launched an internal policy outlining the resources available to staff experiencing these issues, which includes access to mental health assistance, legal and financial support services, and the opportunity to change their working arrangements and relocate if required.
The policy was designed in consultation with Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service, which is offering the training, as well as Nationwide Group Staff Union and employees with lived domestic abuse experience.
Mandy Beech, director of retail services at Nationwide Building Society, said: “We are proud to actively take a stand against domestic abuse and protect our customers and employees who may be impacted by this. We’re pleased that we can now provide a safe space in our branches and support for customers who are experiencing abuse. At Nationwide, we want to support for our staff experiencing domestic abuse. We hope more employers will introduce these policies and give much needed support to those who need it.”