Four new organisations have recently joined the Employers Against Domestic Abuse initiative: Grant Thornton Baltic, ERGO Estonia, the Bank of Estonia and If Insurance. The community, which focuses on recognising domestic abuse, preventing it and supporting those affected, now brings together 22 employers with a combined workforce of more than 30,000 people.
“We spend a significant part of our lives at work. Unfortunately, for some people in Estonia, those eight hours are the safest part of their day. Colleagues and managers are often the first to notice that someone is living in fear or needs help,” said Triin Adamson, Head of the Employers Against Domestic Abuse.
“This understanding led to the creation of the Employers Against Domestic Abuse initiative. Together with employers, we have developed practical approaches and provided training to help organisations better recognise domestic abuse and, when needed, guide those affected towards existing support services and professional help.”
Why join the initiative?
Mati Nõmmiste, Managing Partner of Grant Thornton Baltic, one of the leading providers of audit, accounting, tax, legal, financial, sustainability, cybersecurity and business advisory services in the Baltics, believes employers have an important role to play in preventing domestic abuse. “Statistics show that a significant proportion of people, regardless of gender, have experienced domestic abuse, and this issue affects many organisations, including our own. We must create an environment where people feel safe and confident enough to speak about their concerns. This allows us to support them in finding help when needed,” said Nõmmiste.
According to Helena Jõerand-Konsap, HR Manager at ERGO Estonia, the company joined the initiative with the aim of creating a more informed and supportive organisation where every person knows they are not alone. “We do not need to be specialists in this field, but we can be the people who notice, care and know how to guide someone towards the right support. We believe this is how we create an environment where people feel safe and grow together,” she added.
Madis Müller, Head of the Bank of Estonia, also highlighted the significant economic impact of domestic abuse, resulting from reduced work capacity among those affected and increased healthcare costs. “The least we can do as organisational leaders is ensure that colleagues are able to recognise when someone may need help and that we know where to direct a co-worker in need of support. The Employers Against Domestic Abuse initiative helps us do this in a much more thoughtful and effective way than we could on our own,” said Müller.
Grete Kotkas, Head of If Insurance Baltic HR unit, believes that raising awareness, training and a supportive workplace culture help create a space where people feel able to ask for help, notice one another and offer support. “Through our actions, we want to contribute to a shared understanding that everyone has the right to safety and care — both at home and at work. It is this kind of care and trust that helps build a stronger and more responsible society,” she said.
Twenty-two companies have joined Employers Against Domestic Abuse initiative, employing a total of more than 30,000 people. All employers are welcome to join the initiative, regardless of sector or organisational size. We invite companies, non-profit organisations, foundations and other legal entities who share our values and vision to take part. Individuals with an interest in the topic are also welcome to join. Become a member HERE.