See the Triumph
  • Home
  • About Us
    • The Origins of See the Triumph
    • About our Research
    • Terms of Use
  • Blog
    • See the Triumph Collections
  • "Free Store"
  • Resources for More Information
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About Us
    • The Origins of See the Triumph
    • About our Research
    • Terms of Use
  • Blog
    • See the Triumph Collections
  • "Free Store"
  • Resources for More Information
  • Contact Us
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

Picture
The Triumph Over Abuse Blog

10/21/2013

Stigma in the Workplace

Picture
By Christine Murray, See the Triumph Co-Founder

It’s hard for many people to imagine that someone they know personally may be experiencing intimate partner violence, either as a victim or a perpetrator. But the “Women and the Workplace Summit” last week at Florida State University illustrates the importance of people understanding that their co-workers may need help. Margie Menzel covered this event with an article in the Jacksonville Business Journal.

The career and economic costs of intimate partner violence are staggering for victims, as well as for businesses and our national economy. Perpetrators, for example, may force victims to miss work or turn over their paychecks immediately so that the victims have no direct access to financial resources. In addition, perpetrators may show up and stalk  victims at their workplaces, creating a safety risk and hindering work productivity. All of these factors may make it difficult for victims to maintain employment and advance their careers, and this can create a long-term impact that extends past the time an abusive relationship ends.

The economic costs to businesses are substantial. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, American businesses lose hundreds of billions of dollars each year due to intimate partner violence, not counting the additional billions of dollars that are spent on physical and mental health care.

Many people have known someone at their workplace who have experienced intimate partner violence. In one survey by the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence (CAEPV), 44% of adults with full-time jobs said that they had seen ways that intimate partner violence impacted their workplace.

And yet, the stigma surrounding intimate partner violence can impact how co-workers and businesses respond. For example, Menzel says, “Conference speakers said the first response of employers and colleagues of battered women is often such things as, ‘I have to get my job done --- I don’t want to deal with other people’s personal problem.” She  goes on to say that stereotypes that people hold about what types of people are perpetrators and victims also prevent businesses from putting into place policies and resources.

Imagine what a powerful message it would send if all businesses ascribed to the first principle of creating safe workplaces, put forth by the National Workplace Resource Center on Domestic Violence:

“We will strive to create a workplace environment that is safe from all forms of violence, including domestic violence, and which supports victims of domestic violence to understand and access services, information, and protections available to them.” (p. 4)

The full guide, “The Workplace Responds to Domestic Violence,” provides employees and business leaders with valuable steps for promoting safety and responding to intimate partner violence. In addition, the CAEPV provides a useful list of companies that are already taking steps to address intimate partner violence, and the examples provided on that list shows the diversity of creative and helpful approaches that can be used.

Survivors of intimate partner violence will benefit from informed, supportive, and proactive employers who are equipped to help them be safe and be connected to helpful local resources. Initiatives to provide this support can begin at any level of an organization ,and the resources provided here can help any employee begin to take action and make the case for their own workplace to address intimate partner violence.


Comments are closed.

    Archives

    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All About Intimate Partner Violence About Intimate Partner Violence Advocacy Ambassadors Children Churches College Campuses Cultural Issues Domestic Violence Awareness Month Financial Recovery How To Help A Friend Human Rights Human-rights Immigrants International Media Overcoming Past Abuse Overcoming-past-abuse Parenting Prevention Resources For Survivors Safe Relationships Following Abuse Schools Selfcare Self-care Sexual Assault Sexuality Social Justice Social-justice Stigma Supporting Survivors Survivor Quotes Survivor-quotes Survivor Stories Teen Dating Violence Trafficking Transformative-approaches