{"id":7144,"date":"2017-09-16T17:41:43","date_gmt":"2017-09-16T21:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ioadvisory.com\/?p=7144"},"modified":"2020-02-26T13:06:04","modified_gmt":"2020-02-26T18:06:04","slug":"domestic-violence-within-workplace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioadvisory.com\/blog\/domestic-violence-within-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"The marks of domestic violence in the workplace (Part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last<\/strong> week\u2019s blog<\/strong><\/a> post was inspired by a real story that was very disturbing to discuss since it relates to domestic violence.<\/p>\n

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\"Discussing<\/a>Someone I know asked me for advice about a delicate HR matter, one that required my complete discretion<\/a>. He insisted that we meet in his car because he was that concerned about keeping what he was about to say confidential. He went on to describe how one of his employees had been forced into sex trafficking. Although she maintained the image of a normal, capable, woman in the office by day, she was being manipulated through intimidation and physical threats to sell her body at night. This was why she was having so many missed days of work and also the result of her decreased productivity.<\/p>\n

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Unlike another victim who might limp into work with visible bruises, the marks of this woman\u2019s abuse went relatively unnoticed.\u00a0 Less obvious signs were her lack of concentration, her reduced work efficiency, chronic tardiness, and some absenteeism. \u00a0The effect of the darker aspects of her personal life was further victimizing her. Her job was at risk due to attendance and performance problems. Listening to my associate recount this woman\u2019s ordeal I heard him say \u201cI couldn\u2019t believe she was going through all of that abuse. I just thought she was being inattentive at work.\u201d My contact didn\u2019t say this to be insensitive. He, like so many others who hear stories about domestic violence, found it difficult to understand how anyone could hide that level of abuse so effectively. \u00a0Sadly, it happens all the time. And, I advised him to believe her no matter how far-fetched the situation seemed because the alternative was much too dangerous to ignore.<\/p>\n

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I also gave him some resources to share with her, as well as to direct her towards organizations that could help her get out of that relationship and situation safely (those same resources are included at the bottom of this article<\/em>). Since it was tough to see what she\u2019d be getting out of making up the story I also recommended that he validate her experience. Victims report that one of the most difficult consequences of their abuse is wondering if they will be believed.<\/p>\n

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\u201cFriends ask you questions; enemies question you\u201d – Criss Jami, Healology<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Domestic<\/a>Part of why I thought it was appropriate to address this topic is because the person who sought me out works in an organization that has a Human Resources (HR) department … yet he still chose to speak to me instead. I don\u2019t know if he chose me because he didn\u2019t think he\u2019d get adequate support from his workplace or if he chose me because he knows that I\u2019d help him with extreme discretion<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Issues like domestic violence are extremely complex. One reason for this complexity is that it\u2019s not commonly found in polite conversation. This means that there\u2019s a lack of awareness and understanding among many of us. It\u2019s easy to make the mistake of assuming that it\u2019s a topic that doesn\u2019t belong in the workplace. Given its prevalence<\/a>, however, it\u2019s quite likely that most of us have a colleague, employee, boss, or business associate who has been affected by it. \u00a0This means that there are people being abused at home who get up each day and go to work \u2013 often suffering silently.<\/a><\/p>\n

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The real-life situation that inspired this two-part blog post showed me that there are well-intentioned co-workers, managers, and business owners who would benefit from some advice on how to navigate this challenging topic. This way, various workplaces, and individuals can develop a better understanding and become better-equipped to support others who could be dealing with the fallout caused by domestic violence.<\/p>\n

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After that encounter, I started thinking about how the crisis of Domestic Violence<\/a> should be more of a concern for employers, HR, and fellow colleagues.<\/p>\n

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Some ways that Domestic Violence Affects the Workplace<\/strong><\/p>\n