| If you had 100 employees in your organization and | | | | their employees." |
| could save, say... $300,000 a year would you do it? | | | | So why are so few employers actively involved? And |
| What if you had 1,000 employees and could save | | | | why are so many co-workers afraid to speak up? |
| $500,000? These examples are not so far fetched. | | | | Lost productivity due to domestic violence is |
| Employers today are clamoring for ways to save | | | | estimated to cost $727.8 million a year, with more |
| money; cutting benefits, reducing hours and a variety | | | | than 7.9 million paid workdays lost annually. Forty-four |
| of other methods to cut costs. Sometimes it's at the | | | | percent of executives surveyed say domestic |
| cost of the most vital resource of all - our people. | | | | violence increases health-care costs. One employer |
| When an employee is the victim of domestic abuse - | | | | had to pay $850,000 in a wrongful death lawsuit for |
| it doesn't just stay in the home. It follows the victim | | | | failing to respond to an employee's risk of domestic |
| to work resulting in absenteeism, tardiness, lost | | | | violence on the job. |
| productivity, increased health care expenses and | | | | Yet Arizona employers and managers assume no |
| other costs. This is not just a social problem it is also | | | | domestic abuse occurs among their employees |
| a business problem. | | | | because they rarely hear about it. And employees |
| Not all victims are women and not all abusers are | | | | may not tell them about it because they are afraid |
| men, but 85 percent of victims are women. If she is | | | | of the consequences. |
| employed, it is imperative that she feels her job will | | | | Many employers concede they do not have domestic |
| not be jeopardized. Economics play a huge role in | | | | abuse policies and procedures, which may provide |
| independence, security and survival. | | | | time away from work for court appearances, a shift |
| It is not unusual for a woman to find herself in the | | | | change to a safer time of day or a transfer to |
| process of progressive discipline, even losing her job | | | | another position where the abuser cannot find the |
| because the domestic abuse is affecting her work. In | | | | victim. |
| one case, the employee, Jennifer, was an executive | | | | Even if they do have policies, what then? Training is |
| earning nearly $100,000 annually. Her former | | | | imperative. There are two types of training needed. |
| fiancé began abusing her and stalking her. Her | | | | Managers and supervisors must be trained to |
| employer was initially willing to help. They told Jennifer | | | | understand domestic abuse, discerning the myths |
| she could take time away from work to file | | | | from the facts. Then they must learn to recognize |
| restraining orders and take care of other immediate | | | | the symptoms of abuse and how to respond. |
| needs. But when her coworkers expressed fears for | | | | Training may also include OSHA requirements and |
| their own safety Jennifer was summarily terminated. | | | | workplace violence prevention plans. Secondly, |
| It took two years for Jennifer to find another job. | | | | employees should be provided with training on what |
| Largely because her former employer gave | | | | domestic abuse is and who in the organization to |
| references such as, "She's a great employee, but her | | | | contact for help. |
| home life is a mess." Jennifer had to completely | | | | As employers, we're concerned with the |
| change careers and now earns half her former | | | | organization's economics. In addition to the |
| income. | | | | above-mentioned statistics, think of direct costs. |
| Studies have shown that a victim of domestic | | | | The Society for Human Resource Management |
| violence usually falls one to two income brackets | | | | (SHRM) reports that it costs, on average, 10 percent |
| after leaving the abuser. Consequently often relying | | | | of an employee's wage to replace them. In Jennifer's |
| on public assistance. | | | | case, it likely cost her former employer at least |
| Jennifer says, "Domestic violence was bad enough | | | | $10,000. That's $10,000 that could have otherwise |
| when it was in the present moment. What I wasn't | | | | been earmarked for healthcare contributions, |
| prepared for was the long-term effect it had on my | | | | bonuses, employee retention and other business |
| ability to earn an income for my fragile family. I | | | | needs. |
| couldn't believe that an employer could be so | | | | Real understanding of how domestic violence affects |
| heartless as to say the things that they did. I literally | | | | an organization will reveal the hidden costs. Investing |
| had to go back to school and choose another career | | | | in company-wide training and appropriate procedures |
| out of necessity because of what my fiancé | | | | will save organizations thousands of dollars. |
| and then my employer did to me." | | | | It takes putting sharp pencil to paper and really |
| "Business leaders agree that domestic violence is a | | | | looking at how domestic violence affects your |
| problem that affects their workplaces: 57 percent of | | | | organization, even if you're not aware of specific |
| senior corporate executives believe domestic violence | | | | events. Your willingness to do the right thing by your |
| is a major problem in society," notes the Family | | | | employees will go a long way to increase loyalty and |
| Violence Prevention Fund. "One-third of them think | | | | reduce turnover and a plethora of other expenses. |
| this problem has a negative impact on their bottom | | | | As employers, we must promote the message that |
| lines, and 40 percent said they were personally | | | | abuse is not okay. As co-workers, we must speak |
| aware of employees and other individuals affected | | | | up to executives and managers and affect a change |
| by domestic violence. Sixty-six percent believe their | | | | in office protocol. We can be part of the solution, |
| company's financial performance would benefit from | | | | supporting the needs of colleagues, employees and |
| addressing the issue of domestic violence among | | | | the organization, all at the same time. |