Our customers get discounts on various security products
We are here whenever you need insurance.
Domestic violence emergency assistance is a new insurance benefit for individuals experiencing violence in intimate relationships. It helps companies support their employees so they can change their circumstances without fearing loss of income.
It matters that companies are able to support their employees when it truly counts.
People experiencing domestic violence may hesitate to change their circumstances, partly out of fear of having to take time off work. With the addition of support leave, Vörður aims to make it easier for companies to respond responsibly and support their employees during difficult times.
Companies can now receive compensation for paid leave granted to employees who need time off while changing their circumstances due to domestic violence. This protection is included at no additional cost in Accident Insurance for Employees, Accident Insurance, Health and Accident Insurance, and Crew Insurances.
The workplace can play a key role when individuals affected by violence decide to take their first steps toward safety and freedom. It is therefore crucial that employers support their staff and provide them with the flexibility to access the services they need.
Further information on how managers can recognize the signs, respond appropriately, and support employees in such situations can be found at Bjarkahlíð.
The workplace is often one of the few places where a person experiencing domestic violence can find a moment of safety and distance from the abuser. Employers can therefore play a crucial role by supporting their staff and providing the flexibility they need to access essential services.
Colleagues can also be attentive to signs that may indicate someone is experiencing violence. In this way, the workplace can become an important environment where individuals receive the support they need to take their first steps toward greater safety.
Possible signs include:
Repeated injuries or explanations that seem unlikely
Increased absence, tardiness, or reduced concentration
Emotional distress, isolation, or sudden changes in behaviour or appearance
An unusual number of phone calls, messages, or unwanted visits from the abuser at the workplace
Indications that a partner is monitoring them or attempting unwanted contact
Bjarkarhlíð's website provides clear guidance on how to recognize these signs and how best to respond.
Vörður encourages all companies to have an action plan in place in case employees are affected by domestic violence. The Arion Group, for example, has implemented a dedicated action plan addressing domestic violence.
If your company is considering implementing such a plan, you are welcome to contact us at vordur@vordur.is. We are ready to share our experience and provide materials to support and simplify the process.
Accident Insurance for Employees is an insurance policy for employers that ensures the collective agreement–based rights of their employees. It pays compensation to the insured if they suffer an accident while performing work for the employer and while traveling by the normal route from home to the workplace and from the workplace to home.
The insurance now also provides compensation to the employer for support leave. This enables employers to better support employees who are changing their circumstances due to domestic violence.
The insurance consists of optional coverage components, such as daily benefits, permanent medical disability coverage due to accident or illness, and accidental death benefits. The customer selects the coverage amount for each component.
If the customer has accident insurance that includes daily benefits, support leave also applies. In such cases, the insured may receive daily benefits with no waiting period for up to two weeks while changing their circumstances due to domestic violence.
The insurance consists of optional coverage components, such as daily benefits, permanent medical disability coverage due to accident or illness, and accidental death benefits. The customer selects the coverage amount for each component.
If the customer has accident insurance that includes daily benefits, support leave also applies. In such cases, the insured may receive daily benefits with no waiting period for up to two weeks while changing their circumstances due to domestic violence.
According to maritime law, vessel operators are required to compensate crew members for injuries sustained while performing their work. Crew Insurance is designed to meet the needs of vessel operators and support them in fulfilling this legal obligation. The insurance therefore provides compensation to crew members who are injured while working for the operator.
The insurance now also provides compensation to vessel operators in connection with support leave. This enables operators to better support crew members who are changing their circumstances due to domestic violence.
We have introduced a new supplementary coverage, support leave in cases of domestic abuse, across four different corporate insurance policies: workers’ accident insurance, accident insurance, health and accident insurance, and marine crew insurance.
With support leave, Vörður aims to make it easier for employers to better support employees who are in the process of leaving an abusive relationship, by allowing them time off to address their situation without loss of income.
The coverage provides financial compensation for an employee’s temporary absence and is included at no additional cost.
Support leave is available to all businesses that have workers’ accident insurance and marine crew insurance with Vörður. The coverage is designed to support employees who are working to change their circumstances due to domestic abuse.
Support leave is also available to individuals with accident insurance through Vörður who are unable to carry out their work while taking steps to change their situation due to domestic abuse.
The coverage applies to all genders.
The coverage is included in workers’ accident insurance, accident insurance, health and accident insurance, and marine crew insurance. Its aim is to enable employers to better support their employees and make it easier for them to change their circumstances.
The coverage applies to incidents that have occurred within the past 12 months. The insurance must have been in place at the time the incident occurred.
The coverage applies to all genders and is provided at no additional cost.
This coverage is not optional and is always included as part of these insurance policies.
To initiate the application process for workers’ accident insurance and marine crew insurance, an authorized company representative must verify their identity.
For accident insurance, the insured individual must verify their identity.
The individual will then receive a declaration for approval using electronic ID. The purpose of this declaration is to authorize Vörður to seek confirmation from the professional party the individual has contacted.
Once the request has been submitted, it is handled by specially trained staff, who will contact the relevant professional party identified by the individual, such as a shelter or support service.
The professional party confirms that the individual is in the process of leaving an abusive relationship with their assistance.
Compensation is then paid once this confirmation has been received.
Specialized professionals refers to organizations and service providers that specialize in supporting victims of domestic violence. These include, for example:
Kvennaathvarfið (The Women’s Shelter)
Heimilisofbeldisteymi Landspítalans (Domestic Violence Team at the National University Hospital)
Support centers such as
Bjarkarhlíð
Bjarmahlíð in Akureyri
Sigurhæðir in Selfoss
Suðurhlíð in Reykjanesbær
Support leave due to domestic violence is a new addition to Personal Accident Insurance, Health and Accident Insurance, Workers’ Accident Insurance, and Crew Insurance.
The coverage is now automatically included in all existing policies.
It is not optional, forms part of the insurance, and comes at no additional cost.
You can contact us via email at vernd@vordur.is, and we will assist you in submitting an application without electronic identification.
The coverage is available to people of all genders.
To be eligible, the individual must have sought support from specialized professionals a certain number of times within the past 12 months. “Specialized professionals” refers to organizations that specialize in supporting victims of domestic violence, such as:
Kvennaathvarfið (The Women’s Shelter)
Heimilisofbeldisteymi Landspítalans (Domestic Violence Team at the National University Hospital)
Support centers such as Bjarkarhlíð
This addition to Workers’ Accident Insurance, Crew Insurance, and Personal Accident Insurance provides companies with better tools to support employees who are experiencing domestic violence.
It enables employers to grant paid leave so employees can focus on safely removing themselves from harmful situations.
The coverage is included in all existing policies, is not optional, and comes at no additional cost.
Through this support leave, companies can apply for fixed compensation to offset the cost of granting an employee paid leave for up to two weeks while they work toward leaving an abusive relationship.
This new insurance coverage applies to all companies with Workers’ Accident Insurance and Crew Insurance, as well as all personal accident policies.
The coverage is incorporated into all terms and conditions as of March 5, 2026, and claims can be submitted from that date onward.
Eligibility is based on changes in circumstances within the past 12 months, and the insurance must have been active during that period.
To be eligible for compensation, the following conditions must be met:
The coverage applies to incidents that occurred within the past 12 months.
The insurance must have been in effect at the time of the incident.
The employee must have sought support from specialized professionals at least five times within the past 12 months.
“Specialized professionals” refers to organizations that support victims of domestic violence, such as:
Kvennaathvarfið (The Women’s Shelter)
Heimilisofbeldisteymi Landspítalans (Domestic Violence Team at the National University Hospital)
Support centers such as Bjarkarhlíð
Companies can apply for fixed compensation to cover the cost of granting an employee paid leave of up to two weeks while they exit an abusive situation.
Compensation can be claimed once per employee under Workers’ Accident Insurance and Crew Insurance.
Daily allowance compensation can be claimed once under Personal Accident Insurance.
Filing a claim will not affect pricing or policy terms.
In March 2025, Vörður introduced emergency assistance for domestic violence situations.
Following that work, and through extensive consultation with specialized professionals, it became clear that in some cases victims find it difficult to take time off work to change their circumstances.
To provide better support, we introduced dedicated support leave within our accident insurance policies. This support leave is intended to make it easier for employers to give their staff the time and space needed to safely leave abusive relationships.
No, there is no requirement to file a report or complaint with the police.
There is also no requirement for visible physical injuries.
The only requirement is confirmation from a specialized professional that the individual is actively working to leave a domestic violence situation with their support.