BCFW trains 13 new FSV Workplace Contact Team members for 2 subscribing companies

The Business Coalition for Women Family & Sexual Violence Workplace Contact Team (FSV WCT) training aims to equip key employees within an organization with the necessary knowledge and skills to recognize and appropriately respond and refer fellow employees affected by FSV.

The Coalition conducted two 2-day FSV WCT trainings for BSP Financial Group and Buk bilong Pikinini where 13 employees were trained and certified as their respective company’s FSV Contact Team members.

Successfully training these men and women reflects the Coalition’s unwavering commitment to address these critical issues, foster a culture of safety and respect, and empower positive change within each organization.

• The 2-Day training covered the following sessions for the workplace contact team.

• What is FSV and how does FSV affect the workplace;

• The workplace strategies or policy to address FSV;

• FSV service providers and referral pathways;

• Disclosures: How to have the conversation and;’

• General knowledge and skills to raise general awareness about FSV within the workplace.

“This was a good sensitization training. My takeaway from this training is to be more patient and non- judgmental when supporting staff whether they identify as victim/ survivor or perpetrators. I would also like to network better with the support teams internally to implement the FSV policy.”

BSP Female Participant

“I am now informed about processes involved and have gained some insights on the PNG Law around FSV. I look forward to implementing the FSV policy through ongoing communications.”

Buk bilong Pikinini Participant

Furthermore, the Bel Isi PNG end-line survey undertaken by BCFW and International Finance Corporation (IFC) aimed to identify whether there were benefits to employees and businesses when companies respond to family and sexual violence. It was completed in this quarter with key findings from the survey presented during the BEL Isi FSV Leadership forum on the 18th of May 2023.

Some of the key findings from the survey include:

a) Family and sexual violence impacts people of all genders at all levels of seniority.

b) Almost 1 in 4 (38%) female senior managers reported experiencing FSV more than 12 months ago.

c) Lifetime experience of violence at the endline decreased from 43% in 2020 to 38% in 2022.

d) Emotional and financial abuse remains the most common forms of violence.

e) Under-use of company measures 27% of women and 10% of men experiencing FSV reported accessing Bel Isi services during the past 12 months

f) The proportion of women and men who said family violence is never acceptable increased by 2 and 4 percentage points respectively at the endline.

g) 9 out of 10 men and women say that violence is never acceptable.

h) Better employee well being

i) The average number of lost days due to FSV decreased by 1.4 days per employee per year from almost 10 days when research began

j) Millions of kina in savings for businesses

k) Nearly 60% of women and over 80% of men nominated emergency care for children as one of the most useful supports a company can provide for its employees who are affected by FSV

l) Workplace bullying and harassment as well as online violence emerged as concerns for employees.

m) There is a link between a gender-balanced workforce and positive outcomes.

n) There was also a view among some managers, HR, and Contact Team staff that in instances where there are no disclosures of violence made to the company, no one needs support. This is not necessarily the case. Less than half of all women and men who experienced family and sexual violence spoke to a trained person in the workplace about the problem.

o) Family and sexual violence can affect anyone – regardless of income and educational background. People in all roles from frontline staff, to middle management and senior managers.

Overall, the proportion of women and men in the participating companies who said they had experienced family and sexual violence within their lifetime decreased from 43% in 2020 to 38% in 2022 after accessing the BEL Isi PNG subscription.

Some of the key recommendations from the survey presented to the companies were:

a) Utilize the Bel Isi Subscription - You have subscriptions – use them!

b) Strengthen training awareness-raising on FSV to all staff, including managers and senior leadership;

c) Improve information sharing on existing policies and support programs;

d) Promote Gender Equality and Strengthen diversity – a more equal workforce is correlated with less acceptance of violence, higher reporting, and fewer days lost;

e) Boost bullying, harassment, and online violence policies and practices and support for childcare;

f) Allocate adequate human and financial resources to respond to Family and Sexual Violence;

g) Encourage staff to use available support services.

In summary, training to address family and sexual violence plays a crucial role in raising awareness, preventing violence, supporting survivors, creating safe environments, fostering cultural change, promoting collaboration, and ensuring legal compliance. It empowers individuals and organizations to take a proactive stand against violence and contribute to a society free from abuse and exploitation.