Domestic Violence Prevention in the Workplace
Family Violence Prevention Month:
Domestic Violence Prevention in the Workplace
Guest blog post by the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters
When people think about family violence and domestic violence, they may think about it as something that takes place behind closed doors. While it does indeed take place in the home, the abuse doesn’t stop when people leave for work. In fact, domestic violence is the second most common form of workplace violence in Alberta. More than half of people experiencing domestic violence face attacks from their abusers while at work.[1]
This was true in the tragic case of Lori Dupont, an Ontario nurse who was stabbed to death in 2005 by her ex-boyfriend and colleague, Marc Daniel, who then killed himself as well. Lori was murdered at work, even though her killer exhibited a long pattern of misconduct and threatening behaviour that caused Lori and her coworkers to fear for her safety.[2] Lori’s story is a devastating example of how domestic violence extends beyond the walls of a home. The hospital where Lori and Marc worked eventually settled out of court with the Dupont family, who sought $13.3 million in damages for the terrible and untimely death of Lori while she was at work.[3]
The human cost of domestic violence is staggering –– lives cut short and families left without mothers, sisters, aunts, and daughters. As the Dupont case demonstrates, there is often an economic cost as well – organizations are exposed to liability risks under the terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. By addressing these issues head-on and training employees to act when they see something isn’t right, companies can save costs and more importantly, lives.
Have you overlooked a common workplace hazard?
Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Act identifies domestic violence as a workplace hazard. In a recent survey, 25% of Alberta workers reported experiencing the effects of domestic violence at work and 78% wanted organizations to do more to address domestic violence.
Colleagues are often aware of relationship violence their co-workers are experiencing, but lack the needed information and skills to help provide support.
What can you do to keep people safe?
The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters works with Alberta workplaces to address domestic violence as a workplace safety issue. Our comprehensive Domestic Violence and Your Workplace program offers a multi-faceted approach to supporting your employees and helping to keep your workplace safe. Evidence-informed and supported by current research and relevant Alberta stories, we tailor our supports to the unique needs of each workplace.
Test yourself:
- Does your workplace safety policy address domestic violence specifically?
- Are your supervisors and workers trained to recognize the signs of domestic violence?
- Do you have procedures in place to respond to domestic violence?
- Does your workplace circulate current information about community and in-house supports for staff dealing with domestic violence?
- Are your employees trained to receive and respond to disclosures from co-workers?
- Have you completed a domestic violence-specific hazard assessment?
If you have any “no’s,” join Leading Change at the Edmonton Business Association on November 8, for a breakfast event where you’ll learn about the Domestic Violence and Your Workplace program and how to access ACWS expertise to enhance your employees’ safety at work. More info.
You can also contact Leading Change at leadingchange@acws.ca.
[1] Canadian Labour Congress, 2014
[2] https://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/toolsResources/GovernancePatientSafety/ExecutingGovernancePatientSafety/pages/stories.aspx
[3] Hospital settles with slain nurse's family. CBC News. Jan 4 2010. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/hospital-settles-with-slain-nurse-s-family-1.969225