Why should a workplace be concerned about family violence? Family violence does not stay at home. Victims of family violence, and people who abuse family members, come to work. They bring their problems with them. That can affect a business and its bottom line.
Performance. What happens at home can affect people’s performance at work. Employees living in violent homes may be absent more often and have lower individual productivity.
Safety. If an employee has a violent partner, that partner may cause disruptions and threaten employee safety—not only the safety of the abused employee but co-workers as well. If an employee is a violent partner, that employee may be using the workplace as a base for harassing the abused partner.
Good business practice. Employers understand that the personal well-being of employees is important to an organization’s success. Addressing an issue that affects productivity and safety makes good business sense. Employers who have implemented family violence policies report an increase in staff morale.
Many employers are now implementing family violence policies in their workplaces.