From Michaila Hill, Exeter 382535, August 26,2008

When one in ten employees* leave their workplaces and go home, they will suffer violence or abuse from their partner. That's the key message of a new campaign being launched by Devon County Council to raise awareness in the workplace about domestic violence and abuse.

The campaign, the first of its kind in Devon, is being launched at the Phoenix Centre in Exeter on Thursday 4 September.

The Domestic Violence and Abuse Employer Policy Campaign will highlight how being physically or emotionally abused at home can affect performance at work, and will provide essential support and information to employers. The signs are not always obvious - but for people that spend a significant proportion of their hours in a place of work, employers and colleagues are ideally placed to spot what is going on.

"Research has shown that one in ten people will experience domestic violence and abuse in any one year," said Devon County Councillor and ADVA Chair Jill Owen. "And what happens to you in the privacy of your home - if you are being emotionally or physically abused - can have an impact on how you are at work. That's why this campaign is so vital to raise awareness not only for employers but also employees."

Here in Devon the estimated annual cost of domestic violence is £60 million, and the cost to businesses across the UK in terms of lost productivity, absenteeism, legal costs, medical costs and police costs is £2.7billion.

The launch will be hosted by Devon County Council's Chief Executive Phil Norrey. He said, "Employers have a legal duty to protect their staff. At Devon County Council we employ 24,000 people and have adopted a zero tolerance attitude to violence and we have pledged to support staff who are living with domestic violence and abuse.

"We, of course, know that it is not always easy to spot if a member of staff is suffering abuse - and many employers might consider it a private matter. But it has an undeniable impact on business, let alone the incalculable human cost, and employers need to understand the right way to help."

Representatives from Devon's major public and private sectors will be attending the campaign launch including Devon and Cornwall Police, the Environment Agency and the Primary Care Trust.

Heather Barnes, Devon County Council's Executive Director of Personnel, will be giving a keynote speech and there will be presentations by Assistant Chief Constable Paul Netherton from Devon and Cornwall Police, and Dr Virginia Pearson, Director Public Health, Devon Primary Care Trust. Survivors of domestic abuse will also talk of their experiences of abuse and the role their employers took to help or hinder them.

Musician Martyn Joseph will be performing an original song about domestic violence and will also be appearing at the MADA 2008 concert alongside Devon's Steve Knightley and other artists at the Phoenix Centre on the evening of Thursday 4 September.

ENDS

Photo Opportunity:

Date: Thursday 4 September

Time: 11.45am

Location: Phoenix Centre, Gandy Street, Exeter, EX4 3LS

Notes to editors:

For further information please contact the Media and Public Relations at Devon County Council on 01392 382535.

*A recent employee survey at Devon County Council revealed that one in ten employees suffer domestic violence. Other employer surveys reveal that

98% of domestic abuse survivors said that the abuse affected their ability to perform their job duties

53% of survivors said they missed at least three days work per month

87% of survivors said their abuser made harassing phone calls to them at work (some receiving between 50 - 100 calls per week).

78% of perpetrators reported using their employer's resources in connection with the abuse.

Against Domestic Violence and Abuse (ADVA), formally the Devon Domestic Violence Partnership, was set up in November 2002 to bring together the statutory and voluntary agencies within the county to tackle the problem of domestic violence. www.adva.org.uk

To find out more about Musicians Against Domestic Violence go to www.ma-da.co.uk