Domestic violence and the workplace

Domestic violence and the workplace

Domestic violence doesn't stay at home when women go to work. Domestic violence often becomes workplace violence. It is crucial that domestic abuse be seen as a serious, recognizable, and preventable problem, like thousands of other workplaces health and safety issues that affect a business. More and more, employers today recognize that personal, "real life" problems affect job performance, and job performance affects the bottom line.

Domestic violence affects productivity and increases absenteeism. In a 1997 national survey, 24 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 65 had experienced domestic violence. Moreover, 37 percent of women who experienced domestic violence report this abuse had an impact on their work performance in the form of lateness, missed work, keeping a job, or career promotions.

A study of survivors of domestic violence found that abusive husbands and partners harassed 74 percent of employed women at work. Domestic violence caused 56 percent of them to be late for work at least five times a month, 28 percent to leave early five days a month, and 54 percent to miss at least three full days of work a month. They said abuse also affected their ability to keep a job.

Many employers offer health care benefits to their employees. Not surprisingly, this is another area where domestic violence has an impact on a company's bottom line. The total health care costs of family violence are estimated in the hundreds of millions each year, much of which is paid for by the employer.

Employers are aware of this economic burden: 44 percent of executives say that domestic violence increases their health care costs.

Domestic violence is an important business issue that cannot be ignored. The workplace is where many women facing domestic violence spend at least 8 hours a day. It's an ideal place for them to get help and support. Domestic abuse affects employee health and well-being, productivity, benefit costs, and risk to the employer. When employers see domestic violence as a workplace issue they have the power to save money - and save lives.

Sources:
Domestic Violence in the Workplace, endabuse.org/programs.
EDK Associates, "The Many Faces of Domestic Violence and its Impact on the Workplace," New York, 1997.
Roper Starch Worldwide study for Liz Claiborne, Inc., 1994.
Pennsylvania Blue Shield Institute, Social Problems and Rising Health Care Costs in Pennsylvania, 1992.