Why is a Domestic Violence Policy Important?

If you work in Ontario, you may have heard the words “Bill 132” mentioned or heard that some sort of legislature takes effect on Sept 8.  These terms might sound ambiguous or confusing, but they will soon make a big impact in how you work: your employer will now be required to create clear policies and procedures to protect you from sexual harassment, domestic violence, and sexual assault.  This means that if someone reaches out for help at work, there should be an immediate action plan in place to guide how they can be accommodated through paid/unpaid absences, revised responsibilities, and personal security.

If you’re not a victim, you might be confused why this issue is important or transformative; let us put it into perspective.

Four reasons why having a domestic violence policy is important

1.    It affects more people than you think.

• Did you know that 35% of employees know of a colleague whom they believe is experiencing or has previously experienced domestic violence?
• The effects of domestic violence spill into co-worker interactions along with friend and family relationships. It could even affect a co-worker’s personal life if the victim’s situation becomes worrisome.

2.    It is a security and liability concern.

• Over half of Canadian workers who experienced abuse said that the abusive acts continued at or near the workplace.
• There are times when co-workers have become injured or killed due to an abusive partner entering the victim’s workplace. In 2000, Starbucks manager Tony McNaughton was killed while trying to defend his employee from her armed estranged husband

3.    It threatens performance and productivity.

• Victims and abusers are more likely to take absences, and become less productive as they are stressed or distracted.
• A 2014 New Zealand study found that victims lose an average of 130 work hours from arriving late, leaving early, losing their job, sustaining injuries, being distracted due to the abuse or stalking they experience

4.    It costs individuals, workplaces, and society.

• There are significant mental health and general health care costs associated with victims.
• The 2009 Department of Justice Canada study, “An Estimation of the Economic Impact of Spousal Violence in Canada” found that domestic violence cost the country $7.4 billion, equivalent to $220 per Canadian.  These costs stem from the related activities involving the criminal justice system, child protection, legal aid, hospitalizations, and lost work productivity.
• The cost to workplaces is more than just lost productivity: there are administrative costs to rearranging a victim’s workload, and lost profit from tardiness and missing deadlines.

The problem with current workplace domestic violence policies

According to the Conference Board of Canada, over half of the respondents to its survey about domestic violence stated they had domestic violence policies in place.  However, only one-third trained their managers and employees on this subject and on the services and resources available to victims.  This gap is even more pronounced in the US, where a study found that only 4% of businesses offered any training on domestic violence.

If you want to bridge this gap in your organization, Make It Our Business offers free resources, online training, and even in-person training for your workplace (links to these services are listed below).  WorkSafeBC also produces resources specific to British Columbia, and you can find guidance through crisis lines, local Y(M/W)CA branches, government websites, legal aid,  and women’s shelters.

Next Steps

With so many anecdotes and statistics pointing to the need for increased domestic violence prevention and support, it is comforting to know that employer commitment to this serious issue is swiftly on the way. Before Bill 132, there has never been a large-scale commitment among employers to tackle the issue of domestic violence.  With Ontario legislature committed to helping you and your co-workers, it’s time to craft or refine your current policies and procedures!