Family Violence and the Workplace

Family violence does not stay at home. Victims of family violence, and people who abuse family members, come to work. They bring their problems with them. That can affect a business and its bottom line.

What happens at home can affect people’s performance at work. Employees living in violent homes may be absent more often and have lower individual productivity.

If an employee has a violent partner, that partner may cause disruptions and threaten employee safety - not only the safety of the abused employee but co-workers as well. If an employee is a violent partner, that employee may be using the workplace as a base for harassing the abused partner.

Employers understand that the personal well-being of employees is important to an organization’s success. Addressing an issue that affects productivity and safety makes good business sense. Employers who have implemented family violence policies report an increase in staff morale. Many employers are now implementing family violence policies in their workplaces.


In this section:

What Are Signs That Family Violence May Be Affecting An Employee?

A victim of family violence may show some of the following signs:

  • injuries like bruises, black eyes or broken bones, often explained by “falls”, “accidents” or “being clumsy”
  • unseasonal clothing, such as long-sleeves or turtlenecks in summer, or wearing heavy makeup
  • increased number of phone calls, emails or faxes (there may be strong reactions to these calls or reluctance to talk with the caller)
  • disruptive visits to the workplace by a current or former partner
  • increased absences or lateness
  • change in job performance, such as poor concentration, more errors, slowness or inconsistent work quality
  • anxiety, fear, emotional distress or depression.

A person who abuses family members may:

  • call, e-mail or visit a partner repeatedly during work hours
  • blame others for problems
  • show “defensive injuries” such as scratches from their partner fending off an attack
  • be abusive toward, or harass, others at work
  • be extremely rigid and controlling.

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How Can a Workplace Respond to Family Violence?


Understand The Problem

  • Ensure managers and staff know the facts about family violence and how it can affect a business. They can then plan and implement family violence policies.
  • Consider delegating a manager whom employees can approach about family violence. Employees affected by family violence will first go to people they trust, such as a co-worker or supervisor, who can then approach the manager who has necessary information.

Provide Information To All Employees

  • Ensure all managers and staff understand how to recognize family violence, how to respond and where to get help.
  • Conduct mandatory education sessions so family violence victims and abusers will attend.
  • Make information, such as posters, pamphlets and brochures, available to staff.

Offer Referrals To Services

  • If your organization has an employee assistance program that could provide help or counselling, ensure employees know how to access this.
  • Ensure staff members are aware of family violence services in the community, such as counselling, programs for abusers and shelters.

Practice Prevention

  • Develop proactive policies outlining how safety and other issues of violence are addressed in the workplace.
  • Eliminate behaviours that put employees down.
  • Treat employees with respect. Show no tolerance for staff abuse or bullying.
  • Support community programs for family violence prevention.

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How To Get Help

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, phone 911.

If you suspect that a child may be abused, neglected or exposed to family violence, phone your local Child and Family Services Authority, the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-387-KIDS (5437) or the police.

For information about family violence resources available in your community, phone the 24-hour Family Violence Info Line at 310-1818, toll-free in Alberta, or visit www.familyviolence.alberta.ca.  Help is available in over 170 languages.

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Materials and Resources

For more information about what the workplace can do about family violence, check out the following materials and resources.

The Materials and Resources web page has additional publications to order free of charge.

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Sources

Adapted from Colorado Bar Association materials.  Recognize. Respond. Refer. What to Do When
Abuse at Home Comes to Work. Retrieved July 2007 from Liz Claiborne, Love is Not Abuse website: http://www.loveisnotabuse.com/pdf/230-001-05%20DV%20trifold.v2.pdf

*LGBTQ: A commonly used acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, trans-identified, two-spirited and queer identities.



The Family Violence Info Line 310-1818 helps Albertans reach out to individuals and families affected by family violence. Help is available anytime, toll-free provincewide, in more than 170 languages.