Domestic Violence: Prevention at Work

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Domestic Violence Prevention at Work
2
Domestic Violence What Is It?

• Domestic violence
• is a pattern of physical,
• sexual and emotional
• assault used by an
• Individual with the
• willful intent of hurting,
• dominating, controlling
• an intimate partner or
• family member.

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Facts Domestic Violence at Work

• Domestic violence accounts for 27 of all
  incidents of violence in the workplace. (Source
  U.S. Department of Labor)
• Husbands and boyfriends commit 13,000 acts of
  violence against woman in the workplace every
  year. (Source U.S. Department of Justice)
• 56 of victim were late for at least five times
  per month. (Source EDK Associates, 1997)
• 28 of victims had to leave work early at least
  five times per month. (Source EDK Associates,
  1997)
• 54 of victims missed at least 3 full days of
  work per month. (Source EDK Associates, 1997)
• 74 of employed battered women reported being
  harassed while at work by their abusive partners,
  in person or by telephone. (Source National Safe
  Workplace Institute, 1992)

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FactsEconomic Impact of Domestic Violence

• The health care costs of intimate partner rape,
  physical assault, and stalking exceed 5.8
  billion each year, nearly 4.1 billion of which
  is for direct medical and mental health care
  services.
• (Source Centers for Disease Control and
  Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention
  and Control. Costs of Intimate Partner Violence
  Against Women in the United States. Atlanta, GA,
  2003.)
• Employers lose between 3 and 5 billion every
  year in absenteeism, lower productivity, higher
  turnover and health and safety costs associated
  with battered workers. (Source 2001 American
  Institute on Domestic Violence)
• Businesses lose an additional 100 million in
  lost wages, sick leave and absenteeism. (Source
  2001 American Institute of Domestic Violence)
• Over 1,750,000 workdays are lost each year due
  to domestic violence. (Source 2001 American
  Institute of Domestic Violence)
• Domestic violence in the United States costs an
  estimated 67 billion annually. (Source 2001
  American Institute on Domestic Violence)

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U.S. Executive Survey Results

• 66 of senior executives agreed that their
  companys financial performance would benefit
  from addressing the issue of domestic violence
  among its employees.
• 78 of human resource directors identify domestic
  violence as a substantial employee problem.
• 40 of corporate leaders are personally aware of
  specific employees who are affected by domestic
  violence.
• 94 of corporate security directors rank domestic
  violence as a high security problem at their
  companies.
• 49 of senior executives said that domestic
  violence has a harmful effect on their companys
  productivity.
• 47 admit partner violence negatively impacts
  employee attendance.
• (Source 2001 American Institute on Domestic
  Violence)

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Prevention Works

• Workplace involvement improves the chance of
  success.
• -- World Health Organization, 2004
• The United States 1994 Violence Against Women Act
  has resulted in
• an estimated net benefit of 14.8 billion in
  averted victims costs.
• (The economic dimension of interpersonal
  violence, World Health Organization, 2004)

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Prevention Goals

• Ensure the safety of all employees at work
• Enable individuals who may be victims or
  perpetrators of domestic violence to contact the
  EAP
• Minimize risk factors for domestic violence.

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Requirements for Success

• Strong support of senior leadership to ensure
  visibility and attention
• Commitment from internal communications team(s)
• Participation at all levels of the organization
• Communication and promotion of prevention through
  a series of materials, in print and/or online

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Strategy

• Distribute to every employee a memo announcing
  the Domestic Violence Prevention at Work
  initiative and emphasizing management support
• Sponsor prevention activities on-site seminars,
  community involvement, policy development
• Communicate and promote outreach effort through a
  series of materials and activities

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Diverse Communications

• Ongoing EAP promotions
• Newsletters, e-mails, posters, brochures, tip
  sheets, ect
• On-site seminars facilitated by employee
  assistance professionals
• Web-based resources (Achieve Solutions)
• Articles and resources, interactive quizzes,
  managers tools
• Policy development
• Community involvement and partnerships

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Measurements

• Absence rates
• Medical utilization and disability rates
• Employee satisfaction
• Employee participation

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Expected Results

• Employee safety
• Enhanced productivity
• Reduced health care costs associated with
  domestic abuse
• Improved employee perception of employer
  commitment
• Increased rate of referral to the EAP