Domestic Violence and It's Effects in the Workplace

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ITS EFFECT IN THE WORK PLACE

Prepared by

Yon K. Brown

Senior Research Consultant

Mercer County College Consultants

November 23, 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MY VIEW 4

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 4

ASKING FOR HELP 4

SIGNS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 5

WOMANSPACE 5

PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE/POLICE DEPARTMENT 6

RECOMMENDATIONS 8

MY VIEW

Several employees within the Motor Vehicles Commission have recently expressed concern about either being closely related to a victim of domestic violence or actually being a victim themselves. As a result, the Commissioner has decided to expand and improve services offered through the State’s Employee Assistance Services Program. These services include support specifically for the return of domestic violence victims to the workplace.

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

Domestic violence often accompanies a victim to work. In fact, murder is the number one cause of on-the-job deaths for women in the workplace and, on average, 20% of those women are murdered by their partner at the workplace (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1993).

Domestic violence can affect a victim’s work performance when he or she is harassed by threatening phone calls, or stalked, bring about absences or lowering productivity due to injuries or extreme stress caused by the incident.

ASKING FOR HELP

More often than not, employees are afraid to ask for help not only because they fear they will be labeled or judged for staying in an abusive marriage/relationship but also because domestic abuse is sensitive and embarrassing in nature. Being scared has an effect on all of us. It enables our ability to think and be productive. However, a victim’s fear is unique and profound. Someone who has never experienced domestic violence will misunderstand the victim’s personal feelings. As a result, many...