An employer's first responsibility is to keep the workplace safe for all employees. You can help an employee who may be in a domestic violence situation keep his or her job and possibly gain enough strength to leave their abusive partner.
How to recognize when an employee might be in a domestic violence situation:
- Unexplained bruises or injuries
- Disclosure to other employees (even in a joking tone)
- Fear
- Nervousness
- Anxiety
- Abuser calls or visits employee at work frequently
- High absenteeism
What you can do to help:
- Be supportive
- Let the employee know that you are available when he or she is ready to talk
- Be open and flexible with time-off requests pertaining to the employee's safety (moving out, attending court, etc.)
- Encourage your employee to contact Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety at 1-888-378-7398 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233
- Involve the employee in determining ways they can be more safe while at work
Tips to encourage safety at work:
- Encourage the employee to save threatening email or voicemail messages as evidence
- Make arrangement for the employee to consistently park near the building
- Offer to have the employees calls screened and remove him or her from automated directories
- Relocate the employee's work space to a more secure area
- Obtain a restraining order that includes the work place - and keep a copy on hand
- Provide a photo of the abuser to reception areas and/or security
- Identify an emergency contact person in the event you are unable to contact the employee
- Ask security to escort the employee to and from their vehicle
