Manage Your Life
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Workplace Helps w/Domestic Violence
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There has been some branching out from some domestic violence
organizations to include information of this problem to Corporate
America. Organizations such as Safe Horizon have members of their
organization, teaching companies about the impact of domestic
violence in their workplaces. <img
style="width:143px;height:199px;" alt=""
src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZeIGb9KYx4c/SUfx10pTS4I/AAAAAAAAAZc/q8SpiWz47E0/s320/domestic-violence.jpg"
align="left" height="199" width="143">Not only does it increase
health care expenses, but it also adds to employee absenteeism and
productivity. Corporate America is learning how to distinguish
between employees that are victims of domestic violence and
employees that are not. They are taught to be aware of signs such
as employees wearing long sleeves on hot days, sunglasses indoors,
etc. They also are suggesting companies post domestic violence
hotline phone numbers on signs everywhere in their offices. The
signs around the office literally make victims stop and think when
they see it written on a wall.<br><br>Presently there
are 21 states with laws that require employers to assist victims of
domestic violence by allowing them to take extra days off. The law
also bans discrimination against employees that are in domestic
violence situations.<br><br>This is very important now,
especially with the financial crisis in our country. Victims have
reported more violence from their partners due to painful economic
conditions.<br><br><strong>Below are links and
phone numbers for more information:</strong><br><a
rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ncadv.org/">National Coalition
Against Domestic Violence</a><br><a rel="nofollow"
href="http://www.safehorizon.org/">Safe Horizon's
Domestic Violence</a> Hotline: 800-621-HOPE
(4673)<br><a rel="nofollow"
href="http://www.ndvh.org/">National Domestic
Violence</a> Hotline: 800-799-SAFE
(7233)<br><a rel="nofollow"
href="http://www.caepv.org/">Corporate Alliance to End Partner
Violence</a>
Related: workplace, victims, hotline, domestic violence, corporate america
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Posted by elle Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:33pm PST
I finished taking a college course titled "Domestic and Sexual Violence in a Social Context". We talked about this issue in our class discussions. I think it is very important to include employers in their fight to raise awareness on domestic and sexual violence. In my class, our instructor who happened to also be the Director of Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention for my state's Department of Health talked in great detail about the role an employer/employee's can play.
Often times, the abuser in a relationship will show abusive and controlling behavior at the victim's workplace. This could include threatening phone calls, showing up unannounced at work and causing a scene, etc. Employers/employees can also look out for fellow employees who are showing signs of potential abuse (see the article for examples).
I think overall this is a huge step business/corporations are taking in taking notice of their employee’s lives and bringing awareness to the workplace that this type of behavior is not condoned in our workplace and we as a company will work with our employee should they become a victim of domestic/sexual violence.
Congrats to Safe Horizon for their work!
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Posted by www.WomenOnGuard.com Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:27pm PST
Thanks for your informative comment. Hopefully this law that is enforced in 21 states, will be spread to all states.
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