Domestic violence typically does not stop when a victim goes to work. Three-fourths of employed battered women are harrassed at work by their abuser either in person or over the phone. Domestic violence tremendously impacts the workplace in terms of worker absenteeism, increased health care costs, high turnover rates, and lower productivity.

What employed battered women can do:

• give a current picture of your abusive partner to the security staff, the receptionist, and your supervisor.
• seek personal counseling through your company's employee assistance program. (ask your Human Resource Director or your supervisor)
• ask to have your phone calls screened and, if necessary, to have your workstation moved to a area that would be less accessible to your abuser or to where other workers will be very nearby.
• park close to the building and have someone escort you to and from your car.
• ask to have your work hours changed, particularly if you work at night or when few/no other employees are around.
• alternate between several driving routes to and from work.
• provide your employer with emergency contact numbers.
• ask if your company has a relocation program in case you need to move to another community.

A national survey by the National Workplace Safety Institute found that 94 percent of corporate security directors ranked domestic violence as a high security problem at their company. Domestic violence not only has its personal and economic consequences in the workplace but it can also be a huge legal liability to companies. In fact, employers can be held liable if it can be proven that the employer was aware of the violence and failed to provide a safe and healthly workplace (as required by OSHA).

Here are some ways employers can respond to domestic violence in the workplace:

• Watch for abuse warning signs such as:
  • a worker who is frequently absent or late for work.
  • an employee who freqently comes to work with bruises, scrapes, black eyes, or cuts but tries to pass it off as being "accident prone."
  • a worker who often gets harrassing phone calls at work
  • a worker who seems to be fearful, depressed, stressed out, tearful, or withdrawn much of the time at work.
  • an employee who mentions problems at home or talks about her partner having a bad temper.
  • a worker who is unproductive or inattentive.
• Develop guidelines and procedures for safety and for how to respond to a victimized worker:
  • provide information and phone numbers about available resources for help such as the company's Human Resource Department, local family violence shelters, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE)
  • allow a victim time off to deal with such things as relocating, court hearings or medical help.
  • screen all of the victim's phone calls.
  • provide the victim with security escorts to the parking lot and provide security personnel with photos of the abuser.
  • give the victim payroll advances when she is in a crisis or when she is trying to leave her abuser.
  • have staff from family violence shelters or programs make presentations in company meetings or during a lunch speakers series.
  • encourage other companies and businesses in your area to adopt similar policies and guidelines.
• Train your security staff and employees and:
  • consult with law enforcement organizations about how to improve your security and emergency procedures.
  • make sure your parking areas are well lit and do not put names of employees on parking spaces.
  • do not allow unauthorized people to pick up an employee's check.
  • require identification from any non-employee who is trying to gain entrance, such as delivery persons, outside service workers, sales persons, etc., before letting them enter the building. Also, confirm with appropriate company personnel that someone is expecting this person's arrival.
  • do not give out any personal information about an employee to anyone without first asking permission from the employee.
  • maintain control of all keys and locks and make sure terminated employees return any and all workplace keys.
  • ask all employees to be aware of and report anyone suspicious or who looks "out of place" there.