The workplace impact of domestic violence
The following facts and sources are excerpted from a link on the Family Violence Preven-tion Fund Web site’s (www.fvpf.org) "Fact Sheet":
• Business leaders agree that domestic violence is a problem that affects their workplaces: In one survey, 57% of senior corporate executives believe domestic violence is a major problem in society. One-third think this problem has a negative impact on their bottom lines, and 40% said they were personally aware of employees and other individuals affected by domestic violence.
Approximately 66% believe their company’s financial performance would benefit from addressing the issue of domestic violence among their employees.1
• 78% of human resource professionals polled by Personnel Journal said that domestic violence is a workplace issue.2
• In a 1997 national survey, 24% of women between the ages of 18 and 65 had experienced domestic violence. Moreover, 37% of women who experienced domestic violence reported that their abuse had an impact on their work performance in the form of lateness, missed work, keeping a job, or career promotions.3
• 47% of senior executives polled said that domestic violence has a harmful effect on their company’s productivity.1
• The total health care costs of family violence are estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars each year, much of which is paid for by the employer.4
• Employers are aware of this economic burden: 44% of executives surveyed said that domestic violence increases their health care costs.1
• 94% of corporate security directors surveyed rank domestic violence as a high security problem at their company.5
References
1. Roper Starch Worldwide study for Liz Claiborne Inc. 1994.
2. Personnel Journal 1995; April:65.
3. EDK Associates. The Many Faces of Domestic Violence and Its Impact on the Workplace. 1997; 2-4.
4. Pennsylvania Blue Shield Institute. Social Problems and Rising Health Care Costs in Pennsylvania. 1992.
5. National Safe Workplace Institute survey, as cited in "Talking Frankly About Domestic Violence." Personnel Journal 1995; April:64.
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