Domestic Violence and the Workplace
by Kelly M. Glenn
Between 2003 and 2008, 142 women were killed by intimate partners either in the parking lot or in a public building while the victim was at her workplace.1 In some cases, co-workers and customers were casualties, as well, either by being “in the wrong place at the wrong time” or by the emotional impact of witnessing an act of violence or losing a co-worker to violence.
When employers participate in awareness campaigns to educate their employees about domestic violence and/or integrate the dynamics of domestic violence into writing and enforcing “everyday” policies and procedures, they benefit the company and its employees, victim and non-victim alike.
Here are a few proactive changes employers can make to help respond to and reduce domestic violence in ways that improve safety in the workplace for everyone:
Create flexible leave policies. According to the 2003 publication Cost of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the United States, “Victims of intimate partner violence lose a total of 8.0 million days of paid work each year.2” Victims of domestic violence may not be forthcoming as to why they are calling in or not showing up. They might use sick time to hide an obvious injury, or they might use vacation time to go to court or to counseling. At times, they may call in to prevent an abusive partner from showing up at the workplace.
Educate employees about the signs and symptoms of intimate partner violence. By being knowledgeable and aware, employees can recognize possible signs of abuse in their co-workers. This empowers them to be supportive and anticipate potential “symptoms” of abuse, such as unusual behavior from the victim or an abusive partner calling or showing up at the workplace.
Adhere to strict HR policies about confidentiality. Victims don’t always think (or want) to notify the human resources department that they are experience domestic violence or stalking behaviors from an intimate partner; therefore, maintaining strict confidentiality about an employee’s status can prevent an abuser from obtaining information about the victim that could put that victim at risk.
Train all employees about confidentiality. What do employees say to callers when another employee has taken the day off or called in sick? Do they confirm that the employee is not there? This could put a victim at risk, especially if the victim is using his or her time off to get a protective order, look for housing, meet with an attorney, etc. Best practice would be to forward callers to a voicemail, and leave it up to the employee who has taken leave to let callers know if and when they are not at work.
Create a safety plan. What happens if an aggressive partner shows up on site? How does an employee respond to questioning by the abuser? Who calls 911 and at what point? What are the routes of escape? Where are the safest places to barricade employees in the building if an escape isn’t possible? Are there other means of protection in the building?
Have an open door policy about domestic violence. The best way to prevent a domestic violence related fatality in the workplace is being knowledgeable and prepared. If an employee fears losing their job or is too embarrassed or ashamed to confide in his or her employer about the abuse he or she is experiencing, it could land on that employer’s doorstep without warning. Giving employees a safe space to work, feel valuable, and gain independence while also trusting their employer to do the right thing is literally life giving to a victim of domestic violence.
For more information about the value of employment for domestic violence victims, click here.
Sources
1Tiesman, H.M., Gurka, K.K., Konda, S., Coben, J.H., & Amandus, H.E. (2012). Workplace Homicides Among U.S. Women: The Role of Intimate Partner Violence. Annals of Epidemiology, Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 277-284.
2National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Costs of Intimate
Partner Violence Against Women in the United States. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2003.
Suggested Citation for this Article
Glenn, K.M., Criminal Justice Know How, LLC, October 2020, Domestic Violence and the Workplace. https://criminaljusticeknowhow.com/domestic-violence-and-the-workplace/.
