Blogs

Work holiday parties are a great way to end the year. They’re good opportunities to socialize with your co-workers and talk about things you might otherwise not get a chance to on a daily basis. They’re also a time where many employees bring spouses or partners to meet their coworkers. And while it can be fun and exciting to meet your co-worker’s partner, there might be something you should be on the lookout for that hasn’t even crossed your mind. 

‘Tis the season for holiday work parties. With many people celebrating during the month of December - Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and others - most workplaces also celebrate with a party of their own. These parties are often a fun time, a chance to chat with co-workers about non-work related subjects, and a sometimes-rare opportunity to hang out with people you see every day, outside of the workplace.

Domestic violence is an issue that affects us all. You might have even experienced it firsthand yourself. Or maybe you have a friend, a family member, or a co-worker who has been in an abusive relationship. There’s also a chance that someone you know has experienced violence at the hand of a partner, but you’re not even aware of it. Domestic violence is far-reaching and the emotional, physical and financial implications can be long-lasting.

Domestic abuse doesn’t stay in the home. It often follows the victim to work, resulting in issues for the victim, a disruptive workplace or even safety concerns for the victim and co-workers. The workplace is also where many people spend a large majority of their days, so co-workers and supervisors are often in one of the best situations to recognize any signs of abuse. Read up on the common warning signs of domestic abuse. If you believe someone you work with is being abused by a partner or other family member, there are a number of steps you can take to help.

Shelley Yeo
Assistant Executive Director at Women's Community House

Acts of kindness come easily to some and not so easily to others.  I think we sometimes make it more complicated than it needs to be.

Every four days in Canada, a woman dies at the hands of a family member. And every single day, there are over 230 reported victims of domestic violence. Family violence is a serious health issue that affects many Canadians. Even more startling is that this abuse is also very under-reported. Reports estimate that only 30% of people report domestic abuse.

Having a safe and healthy workplace is something every organization and company should be striving for. It creates a more positive atmosphere as well as happier workers who enjoy coming to work.

Domestic violence can be very complicated especially when there are children involved. It’s been shown over and over again that finances are the the greatest deterrent for a woman leaving an abusive relationship.

The results are finally in, and we hope you’ll find them eye-opening and enlightening!

Last year, we launched a survey to -domestic violence offenders about how their experiences impact the workplace, because we had a lot of pressing questions following from our groundbreaking pan-Canadian study on domestic violence in the workplace, titled “How can work be safe, if home isn’t?”

It’s considered one of the largest modern migrations: students, teachers, and support staff heading back to school!  Backpacks are zipped up, paper-bag lunches are packed, and bright yellow school buses roll around street corners once again after a summer hiatus that always feels too short.  Despite the looming and dreaded concept of “work”, the first week of school is always optimistic with the notion of a fresh start.  However, as the school year continues, everyone inevitably experiences ups and downs.  Whether you’re a teacher, student, custodian, or principal, the school year is a great opportunity to support one another.