Programs & Services

FOR THE COMMUNITY

VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE

When Family Violence Comes to Work

Employers play an important role in making the workplace safe for victims of domestic violence. A safe work environment includes many components such as policies, training, security, flexible leave and benefits and employee education. Domestic violence can cause victims to be absent, tardy and distracted. Some abusers actively interfere with their victims’ ability to remain employed. In addition, once a victim tries to separate from a violent partner, the abuser may still find the victim at the workplace.

In order to address these issues, Sojourner Family Peace Center provides advocacy and education to:

• Help employers recognize that family violence is a business issue
• Educate employers and their staff on the issue of domestic violence
• Work with employers to develop policies to keep employees safe at work
• Provide employment advocacy to victims of domestic violence if they become at risk of losing their jobs due to domestic violence issues

“Are there victims or perpetrators in my workplace?”

Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence, from the highest paid, longest-working employee to the lowest-skilled part-timer. Likewise, anyone can be an abuser, regardless of how well-mannered, educated and well-paid the employee may be. Abusers can be very charming to people who aren’t the targets of their abuse. Statistically, women are much more likely to be victims of battering than men.

Safety At Work- Steps You Can Take:

• Provide protective services:
• Security personnel to walk employees to their cars and to screen at entries
• Consider monitoring work site with security cameras
• Offer to relocate a threatened employee to another work site or another location at that site
• Offer to alter an employee’s work schedule to make the schedule less predictable to the abuser
• Provide silent alarms or buzzers at work stations of employees who need them
• Allow employees time off to address safety needs
• Encourage victims to provide a photo of the abuser so those in screening positions can help provide protectionM
• Encourage use of existing resources such as law enforcement, restraining orders and cell phones

Training for Professionals Program

Our Training for Professionals program offers on-site employee training titled “When Family Violence Comes to Work” for human resource professionals and security staff of local companies. Call Sojourner Family Peace Center Community Education department at 414-276-1911 for more information.