Analysis: domestic violence often means women can no longer participate in the labour force due to injuries and illnesses associated with the abuse
By Caroline Forde and Nata Duvvury, NUI Galway
With the Organisation of Working Time (Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2020, Ireland is close to introducing legislation that will establish a statutory entitlement to paid domestic violence leave. Similar ground-breaking laws already exist in New Zealand and the Philippines, granting domestic violence survivors paid leave to end an abusive relationship, find a new home and protect them and their children.
In Ireland, NUI Galway has recently become the first higher education institution to introduce a domestic violence leave policy providing for a period of paid time away from work for staff members who have suffered or are suffering from such violence. This leave will enable the staff member to take the time they need to seek assistance in a structured and supported environment. So, what has provided the impetus for domestic violence leave laws and policies?
The impact of domestic violence
Prioritised in international frameworks such as the Istanbul Convention, domestic violence has long been established as a serious and pervasive global issue. The Irish government ratified this Convention in 2019, following establishment of the 2018 Domestic Violence Act criminalising coercive control. This Irish legislation is significant because it recognises the violence, intimidation, isolation and control involved in abusive intimate relationships.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's News At One, Sarah Benson from Women's Aid on the increase in domestic violence incidents
More recently, the pandemic has both exacerbated and brought an increased focus to domestic violence/coercive control globally. While much of our research focuses on its human rights and public health implications, it is becoming increasingly clear that domestic violence/coercive control produces wider social and economic costs. This knowledge is essential to a comprehensive response.
The cost of domestic violence
Given the dearth of violence-costing research in Ireland, the government has relied upon extrapolation from a 2006 European study, which suggests that domestic violence/coercive control costs the country €2.2 billion annually in policing, health bills, lost productivity and court proceedings.
To address this gap in evidence, our study with Safe Ireland has established a range of indicative individual/household costs due to domestic violence/coercive control in Ireland. We estimate an aggregate cost of €113,475 per woman or a total of €5,673,732 across the study sample. This equates to a national indicative cost of €56 billion over approximately 20.5 years, excluding government expenditure on prevention and service provision.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime, Della Kilroy reports on the increase of domestic violence during the pandemic
Domestic violence and the workplace
From our findings, lost income and productivity emerged as the major cost for women, equivalent to €2,466,129 in total for 12 women in the study, or €205,511 for each woman who experienced income loss on average. In addition, the number of women unemployed at the time of the study had doubled since the outset of the abusive relationship, predominantly due to domestic violence/coercive control. Women also reported losing jobs because of violence, missing days of work and finding it difficult to concentrate at work.
These findings on the substantial toll of domestic violence/coercive control on women's employment echo those of international studies. Domestic violence/coercive control is a workplace issue because its physical and psychological consequences often translate into lost income and productivity when women can no longer participate in the labour force due to injuries and illnesses associated with the abuse. This abuse also has a direct impact on women’s income and productivity when they are prevented from working or having a career outside of the home.
This loss of output has negative consequences for women’s capabilities and wellbeing. Lost income and productivity also hinders women’s future employment, earning potential and career progression. In addition, it leads to long-term consequences for their economic security, forcing women who escape an abusive relationship into poverty and dependence on the state. It is Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly’s thorough understanding of these significant issues that underpins the domestic violence leave Bill.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime, Sarah Benson from Women's Aid on new legislative proposals for the establishment of a statutory entitlement to paid domestic violence
By recognising domestic violence as a workplace issue, in addition to criminalising coercive control, Ireland is at the forefront of a more holistic response to an issue that sadly continues unabated. Domestic violence leave policies provide women with financial independence and a greater capacity to escape an abusive relationship. They also reduce the probability of women ceasing economic engagement.
However, an understanding of the resources required to translate policy commitments into concrete actions is a fundamental part of ensuring that domestic violence/coercive control is comprehensively addressed. Our research not only provides a clear picture of the work-related costs of domestic violence/coercive control in Ireland, which will bolster implementation of workplace legislation, it is the first crucial step in producing an evidence base to guide wider resource allocation.
Dr Caroline Forde is a researcher with the Centre for Global Women's Studies at NUI Galway. She is a former Irish Research Council awardee. Dr Nata Duvvury is director of the Centre for Global Women's Studies at NUI Galway.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ. If you have been affected by issues raised in this article, support information is available online
