Today is White Ribbon Day, a fitting day for the launch of Konica Minolta’s new internal domestic violence policy. HC outlines how the company will address the issue.
Today is White Ribbon Day – a national campaign to help end male violence against women – and organisations across Australia are stepping up to show their support for the cause.
One of those companies is Konica Minolta, which today is launching a domestic and family violence policy for its employees.
The policy provides paid leave, flexible working arrangements and employee assistance programs to any of its 500 employees across Australia.
In an arguably unique move, Konica Minolta has not limited its policy to supporting victims of domestic violence: employees who are actively supporting a victim can also access the benefits of the policy, as can perpetrators who choose to come forward.
Konica Minolta developed the policy in consultation with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Gendered Violence Research Network and the Women’s Legal Service Queensland.
Not just an HR issue
A key element of the policy will include Konica Minolta employees receiving training from UNSW faculty members. Employees who complete the training will then act as ‘go to’ people for victims and perpetrators alike.
The employees who participate in the training aspect of the policy will not be from just one department of corporate rank – the company will put forward a diverse group of staff members from multiple sites.
“Konica Minolta’s ‘go to’ people will complete intensive face-to-face training to ensure they are able to offer support and guidance, as well as referral to appropriate support providers,” said Anastasia Konstantelos, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) consultant at Konica Minolta.
Growing a better future
The internal launch of the policy was kicked off with the delivery of custom-made seedling packages to all employees.
“The seeds were distributed as a symbol of hope for a future free of domestic and family violence,” said Konstantelos.
“We are encouraging our employees to plant the seeds and look after them, as a kind of a living, breathing expression of the hope we all share.”
According to the company’s director of people and culture, Cindy Reid, organisations across Australia should be doing their part in the campaign against domestic violence – and not only for the sake of their own people.
“Konica Minolta has a responsibility as a medium-sized company to impact the social situation by increasing awareness and publicity in a genuine way, to help both victims and perpetrators,” she said.
“Social responsibility is a fundamental part of our DNA. We are a company that cares deeply about our people, our customers and the wider community.
“It would be remiss of us to overlook domestic and family violence as a workplace issue, particularly in this context.”
