[UK] Tesco offers paid ‘safe leave’ for victims of domestic abuse and trains managers to spot warning signs

In the UK, the retail giant Tesco has become the first supermarket to introduce paid “safe leave” for victims of domestic abuse. In addition, it has trained managers to spot the warning signs of domestic abuse, The Guardian reports.

Tesco will give employees dedicated time to access support, secure their safety and take steps to move on with their lives.

It is reportedly offering up to three days of paid leave. These can be taken flexibly for activities such as attending court hearings, arranging emergency accommodation, changing locks, securing childcare or separating finances.

Managers across the business have also been trained to spot the signs of domestic abuse, support those affected and flag them to specialist services.

Under the new policy - developed in partnership with the shopworkers’ union Usdaw - Tesco will reportedly not demand that employees who have been abused provide formal evidence to gain access to the special leave.

Tesco - the UK’s largest private-sector employer, with a workforce of 300,000 people - is believed to be the first big retailer in the nation to introduce safe leave. Similar policies, such as protected paid leave, emergency accommodation and training staff to spot the signs of domestic abuse, have been enacted at other UK companies, including BP and Vodafone, together with some local councils.

According to Daniel Adams - an Usdaw national officer - domestic violence and abuse affected the lives of at least one in five women. Mr Adams urged other employers to introduce similar support.

“Usdaw has long campaigned for support at work for survivors of domestic abuse, and we are pleased to have successfully negotiated this new policy with Tesco. Domestic abuse often has an impact on the working lives of survivors, and it is important that employers understand this and the actions they can take to support and protect them,” he said.

“Historically, violence against women, and domestic violence in particular, has been hidden, excused and ignored. That needs to change.”

Emma Taylor - Tesco’s chief people officer - said, “We believe we have a responsibility to support colleagues in what are likely to be some of the most challenging moments in their lives.

“That’s why we’re introducing guaranteed safe leave, ensuring colleagues can access practical support and the time they need without worrying about taking unpaid leave or explaining deeply personal circumstances.

“We’re proud to be taking this step and want it to help drive wider action from employers across the UK. No one should have to choose between their job and their safety.”

In 2025, more than 3 million people suffered some form of domestic abuse in England and Wales. The majority of these were women, the campaign group SafeLives said. 

According to SafeLives, based on 2023 data, eight women a month are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales.

Source: The Guardian

(Quotes via original reporting)

In the UK, the retail giant Tesco has become the first supermarket to introduce paid “safe leave” for victims of domestic abuse. In addition, it has trained managers to spot the warning signs of domestic abuse, The Guardian reports.

Tesco will give employees dedicated time to access support, secure their safety and take steps to move on with their lives.

It is reportedly offering up to three days of paid leave. These can be taken flexibly for activities such as attending court hearings, arranging emergency accommodation, changing locks, securing childcare or separating finances.

Managers across the business have also been trained to spot the signs of domestic abuse, support those affected and flag them to specialist services.

Under the new policy - developed in partnership with the shopworkers’ union Usdaw - Tesco will reportedly not demand that employees who have been abused provide formal evidence to gain access to the special leave.

Tesco - the UK’s largest private-sector employer, with a workforce of 300,000 people - is believed to be the first big retailer in the nation to introduce safe leave. Similar policies, such as protected paid leave, emergency accommodation and training staff to spot the signs of domestic abuse, have been enacted at other UK companies, including BP and Vodafone, together with some local councils.

According to Daniel Adams - an Usdaw national officer - domestic violence and abuse affected the lives of at least one in five women. Mr Adams urged other employers to introduce similar support.

“Usdaw has long campaigned for support at work for survivors of domestic abuse, and we are pleased to have successfully negotiated this new policy with Tesco. Domestic abuse often has an impact on the working lives of survivors, and it is important that employers understand this and the actions they can take to support and protect them,” he said.

“Historically, violence against women, and domestic violence in particular, has been hidden, excused and ignored. That needs to change.”

Emma Taylor - Tesco’s chief people officer - said, “We believe we have a responsibility to support colleagues in what are likely to be some of the most challenging moments in their lives.

“That’s why we’re introducing guaranteed safe leave, ensuring colleagues can access practical support and the time they need without worrying about taking unpaid leave or explaining deeply personal circumstances.

“We’re proud to be taking this step and want it to help drive wider action from employers across the UK. No one should have to choose between their job and their safety.”

In 2025, more than 3 million people suffered some form of domestic abuse in England and Wales. The majority of these were women, the campaign group SafeLives said. 

According to SafeLives, based on 2023 data, eight women a month are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales.

Source: The Guardian

(Quotes via original reporting)