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Domestic Violence Issues
Exerpt by President Michelle Castle Pioneer Newsletter November 2008 Domestic Violence and the Workplace What is Domestic Violence? http://www.ncadv.org/files/DomesticViolenceFactSheet(National).pdf
Many studies have been conducted in the United States about domestic violence in the workplace and ithas been proven that domestic violence affects not only the victim but has a detrimental effect onbusinesses as well. Current statistics are listed below. Also, gather any local statistics about domesticviolence in the workplace in order to make a persuasive argument about the importance of having policies. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the annual cost of lost productivity due to domestic violence equals $1.8 billion, with more than 7.9 million paid workdays lost each year the equivalent of 32,000 full-time jobs. The Family Violence Prevention Fund reports that a study of survivors of domestic violence found that abusive husbands and partners harassed 74 percent of employed battered women at work. Domestic violence caused 56 percent of them to be late for work at least five times a month, 28 percent to leave early at least five days a month, and 54 percent to miss at least three full days of work a month. The women reported that abuse also affected their ability to keep a job. The American Institute on Domestic Violence reports the following statistics: Employers lose $3–$5 billion every year in absenteeism, lower productivity, higher turnover and health and safety costs associated with battered workers. Businesses lose an additional $100 million in lost wages, sick leave and absenteeism. Ninety-four percent of corporate security directors rank domestic violence as a high security risk. Seventy-eight percent of Human Resource Directors identify domestic violence as a substantial employee problem. Forty-nine percent of senior executives said that domestic violence has a harmful effect on their company’s productivity. Partners commit 13,000 acts of violence against women in the workplace every year. What Does Soroptimist Do? In 1994, Soroptimist International of the Americas formally adopted the prevention of domestic violence as a major focus. Currently, Soroptimists participate in an annual event designed to focus attention on domestic violence as a workplace concern. Each year, on November 25 (the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women), Soroptimist club members distribute thousands of cards containing domestic abuse prevention information and hotline numbers. This campaign reaches out to women in the workplace, since most domestic abuse victims are employed outside the home, and violence at home often spills over into the workplace. In 2002, the campaign received an International Advocacy/Policy Achievement award from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Associations Make a Better World program. In 2005, SIA developed a new component for clubs—The Domestic Violence Workplace Guidelines—which contain information and instructions on adopting domestic violence policies in the workplace. The goal of adding these policies is to raise awareness about domestic violence and to assist employees who might be victims. Sample policies include the flexible use of leave time to attend court or doctor’s appointments, providing priority parking or an escort to public transportation, and providing education to all employees about domestic violence. These guidelines received 2006 Honor Roll recognition from Associations Advance America. As part of the process in developing the guidelines, SIA adopted its own workplace policies as part of its personnel policies. These policies are also included in the club materials as a sample policy. In addition to writing the policies, SIA will hold domestic violence education workshops for its board directors and staff. Soroptimist joined with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) to produce and distribute Every Home a Safe Home, an informational resource for women trying to leave abusive situations and those who provide services to these women. Soroptimist clubs and NCADV distributed more than 100,000 copies of the award–winning Every Home a Safe Home booklets in six languages and Braille to women and social service agencies around the world. Soroptimist contributed more than $100,000 in funding for this joint project. For its efforts, Soroptimist received the NCADV Allies Against Violence Award, which honors corporate or philanthropic groups that make a difference in the lives of domestic violence survivors.
Our club participates in the Soroptimist Workplace Campaign each year. Club members are asked to provide their workplace with Domestic Violence Hotline cards. These cards have already been printed and will be available for club members to distribute after our November meeting.
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