From Lifeline: the Newsletter of the Support Network for Battered Women
18-1, (Fall,1997)

Workplace Violence Education Efforts   by David S. Lee, Director of Community Education, Support Network for Battered Women

Work can be a dangerous place. In 1995, 1024 workers were killed in the workplace and over two million worker were victims to other violent crime in the workplace. This violence includes acts committed by disgruntled employees, violence committed by customers, and domestic violence which has entered the workplace.

“Violence in the workplace is a serious issue facing employers today,” says Robert Dorsey, Chair of the Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council’s Workplace Violence Committee. “Much of the violence at the workplace is the result of domestic violence which impacts the victim worker, co workers and people who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“A victim of domestic violence may be stalked at work, harassed via the company telephone or e-mail, and the victim’s co workers may become at risk. Workplace violence affects everyone involved, increases medical costs, loss of productivity, and employer liability, only to name a few,” says Dorsey, an executive with a San Jose firm, and board member of the Support Network. Employers must take effective pro-active steps to address this potential violence.

Over the last few years, the Support Network for Battered Women and the Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council have met to develop model responses to violence in the workplace. At the annual “Ending Family Violence” Conference (see the Domestic Violence Awareness Month calendar), workshops and roundtables will focus on domestic violence.

Workplaces must establish clear protocols to respond to violence. Many businesses have established Critical Incident Response Teams to provide immediate safety and support when a violent incident has occurred. In addition, workplaces must have personnel policies which prevent the retaliation against victims of domestic violence. “Often battered women are harassed at work by their abusers, yet their employers then proceed to hold the victims accountable for ‘not doing her job.’” Says Carol Barnett, Support Network staff attorney and an Advisory Board member to The Complete Workplace Violence Prevention Manual. “Employers should respond to find way to protect the work and other employees from the threats of violence.”

One of the best corporate responses to domestic violence from the private sector is the Polaroid Corporation. Jim Hardeman, director of their Employee Assistance Program stresses that domestic violence is not acceptable. Hardeman, the featured speaker at the Support Network’s annual Domestic Violence Awareness luncheon on October 17, 1997, is a nationally recognized speaker promoting pro-active corporate responses to domestic violence. Polaroid has policies to provide support to battered women, including paid leave for battered women to attend court sessions, training for employers on how to respond, and a no-tolerance for abuse policy for its employees. In addition, Polaroid distributes cameras to battered women’s shelters, hospitals and law enforcement agencies to improve the documentation of domestic violence cases.

© 2000, Support Network for Battered Women

The Support Network is an active participant in national domestic violence in the workplace efforts and educates Bay Area businesses on the connections between domestic violence and the workplace. For more information on this program or to organize a speaker in your workplace contact the Community Education Department at (408) 541-6100 or communityed@snbw.org