KENYA – East African Breweries Plc (EABL), Kenyan subsidiary of British alcohol company Diageo, has rolled out a set of guidelines to support employees facing domestic and family abuse to disclose it and seek help.
These guidelines are intended to enable employees to feel safe to raise awareness on issues relating to the matter, reach out when in need for help, respond and refer cases of abuse at home or in the workplace.
Under the guidelines, employees can get paid leave of up to 10 days per year to deal with issues arising from domestic and family abuse, reports Star News.
KBL managing director, John Musunga said the company considers the guidelines important because abuse has physical, psychological, and financial effects that have an impact on all aspects of those experiencing it.
“Through these guidelines, EABL is publicly communicating its zero-tolerance approach to domestic and gender abuse throughout our value chain.
“We want an environment at EABL that promotes safety and is flexible, respectful, and supportive of employees experiencing domestic and family abuse so that they feel comfortable to disclose it and seek help,” said Musunga.
Domestic violence is an endemic social problem in many countries around the globe facing both women and men.
According to Musunga, the support is part of the company’s efforts to create an inclusive culture, where employees feel valued, can thrive, and which allows them to be at their best both at home and at work.
“We want employees facing domestic and family abuse to feel that they can rely on their workplace to be a safe place to escape violence and a crucial source of social and economic support,” Musunga added.
The company has set up a confidential counselling and support service accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week for employees facing actual or threatened domestic and family abuse whether in or out of the workplace.
EABL has put in place additional policies that are not only applicable to its staff but also extended to its partners who include brand promoters, outlet owners and distributors.
This come at a time the company’s subsidiary, Kenya Breweries Limited, is marking 100 years of operations and sets in place strategies to ensure its growth in the next 100 years.
Sustainability is the bedrock of the company moving forward, as it focuses on promoting and encouraging the growth of business in ways that benefit investors, customers and employees while at the same time supporting the social, cultural, and environmental needs of the communities it serves.
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