How to Prevent Domestic Violence from Threatening Workplace Safety

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. This is a good time for employers to address the issue of domestic violence to help prevent it from threatening workplace safety. If you're thinking that domestic violence issues are not relevant to the workplace, please think again.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• HR representative
• Workplace prevention policy
• knowledge on how to implement domestic violence prevention program

1. Know your facts. According to the Employment Law Information Network, in an article by Elarbee, Thompson, Sapp & Wilson, LLP. "The 2005 national survey conducted by the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence, showed that 21% of full-time employed adults identified themselves as victims of domestic violence. Also they reported that the Department of Justice estimates that 13,000 domestic violence incidents are committed in the workplace annually. Homicide was the leading cause of death for women in the workplace. This proves that Domestic violence is also a workplace issue.

2. Employers should recognize the truth about how their organizational budgets are affected by domestic violence. According to the American Institute on Domestic Violence Employers pay out billions of dollars related to employee's medical expenses/health care cost and lost of productivity and time from work due to domestic violence.

3. Additionally, employers must note that domestic violence is not simply a "women's" issue. Domestic violence homicides that take place at work not only affect women, but men as well. According to the Centers for Disease Control, every year there are 2.9 million incidents of intimate partner assaults against men, with 25% of the deaths being men. For instance a story reported by News4Jax.com in Waycross, GA. An eye doctor was shot and killed by his wife in front of his co-workers and patients.
   Other factual stories of abused men in the state of Michigan can be found on http://www.ejfi.org/DV/dv-90.htm#boyfriend.

4. What steps can employers take? They can help create and sponsor programs to engage employees in Domestic Violence Prevention. Companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield have taken an active role in addressing the issues.
   In addition to prevention, companies can be supportive of employees who have disclosed to them their situations of domestic violence. This means not only supplying them with the number to EAP but also assisting in enforcing personal protection orders, developing a buddy system to protect the employee, ensuring that a Work Place Violence Policy is in place and followed. Making sure that employees are not left alone at night without security or in unlit parking lots.

5. Employers should also develop a system where all visitors must first sign in and state their reason for business prior to being given access inside the building. Safety and Security policies and manuals should not only address hazardous chemicals and/or natural disasters, but should address workplace violence issues as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Ensure that Safety and Security policies list out hotline numbers for domestic violence and explain that 911 calls may also be necessary for unauthorized trespassers.
• Be careful not to violate an individual's right to privacy.
• Do not attempt to write or conduct Domestic Violence prevention policies and training without involving an expert in the field and having all documents and training materials reviewed by Attorney's specializing in Domestic Violence matters

Resources

• http://www.shrm.org

[goldiec]

on 11/5/2009 Wonderful article on How to Prevent Domestic Violence from Threatening Workplace Safety! 5* I think we all have to be aware of our surroundings and take what precautions we can.

[amysmarts]

on 10/26/2009 Great article on How to Prevent Domestic Violence from Threatening Workplace Safety. Very informative and great information. Thanks. 5*