Linklaters has launched a new policy and support programme for its U.K. staff who are living with domestic abuse, in a first-of-its-kind for the legal sector. 

The scheme includes access to emergency accommodation and funds, up to 10 days paid leave, and access to advice from U.K. charity Surviving Economic Abuse. 

The new programme comes at a time of reported spikes in domestic abuse cases following the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic – which the firm says makes working from home during lockdown measures an intimidating prospect for some people.

Linklaters will offer support to employees, and their children, who need to flee their home in an emergency, including funding three nights' accommodation in a hotel and providing a daily living expenses allowance, the firm announced.

Additionally, Linklaters will offer affected employees access to a one-off payment of up to £5,000 to support an individual in becoming financially and physically independent from their abuser. 

There will be no requirement to repay the firm and the money can be paid in a variety of means to ensure that the individual has full control of it, the firm added.

Finally, the firm has partnered with Surviving Economic Abuse, a U.K. charity dedicated to raising awareness of, and transforming the response to, economic abuse. 

The firm added that the charity will provide fully confidential, one-to-one, expert advice to support anyone who needs to fully separate their finances from their abuser.

In a statement, Linklaters global diversity and inclusion partner David Martin commented: "The future of how and where we work remains uncertain. For now, our homes are now our workplaces and it is clearer than ever that domestic abuse is a workplace issue. 

"We have introduced this comprehensive package of support because we want to send a clear message to any of our people living with abuse that they are not alone, we care, and the help they need is available to them."

In April, U.K. firm Irwin Mitchell announced that it would offer free advice to victims of domestic abuse, as a result of the increase in cases during the U.K. coronavirus lockdown.

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