Violence in the home can lead to violence in your facility, warns Rich Cordivari, vice president of learning and development at AlliedBarton Security Services. Employees and their coworkers are at risk when an aggressive spouse or significant other comes to the workplace to act out against a partner.
According to a 2005 survey conducted by the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence, workplace violence as a result of domestic violence is not uncommon, and facility managers and building operators need to be aware of the signs.
The survey found that 44% of full-time working male and female respondents had personally experienced the impact of domestic violence in the workplace, most frequently because a co-worker was a victim.
There are ways to help those in need and reduce the risk of personally experiencing domestic violence in the workplace, whether it is threatening you or one of your staff.
Make a difference by simply talking about domestic violence at work and recognizing the signs of an employee in distress, including (but not limited to):
- Changes in schedule, such as arriving late or leaving early
- Unexplained injuries such as bruises, fractures, sprains, etc.
- Suddenly avoiding interaction
- Emotional outbursts that cannot be explained
- Constantly receiving phone calls from a spouse or partner
- Unexplained surprise visits from a spouse or partner
- Poor or unsatisfactory work when work had been satisfactory previously
Over 70% of workplaces do not have a formal workplace violence program or policy in place, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.