Domestic Violence: Prevention at Work

1. 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.

3. 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)

4. Facts–Economic 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)

5. U.S. Executive Survey Results • 66% of senior executives agreed that their company’s 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 company’s productivity. • 47% admit partner violence negatively impacts employee attendance. (Source: 2001 American Institute on Domestic Violence)

6. 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)

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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, manager’s tools • Policy development • Community involvement and partnerships

11. Measurements • Absence rates • Medical utilization and disability rates • Employee satisfaction • Employee participation

12. 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