Domestic Violence in the Workplace
NFFNNNFF @ Work in Ontario
What everyone needs to know...
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
Why are we here?
In almost every case of domestic
homicide, we found that the people around
the victim knew what was going on – but
didn’t know what to do about it…
Al O’Marra
(Former) Chief Counsel Coroner’s Office of Ontario
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
Key Messages

Neighbours, Friends and Families have a crucial
role to play in preventing woman abuse

You can learn about the warning signs of
woman abuse and you can learn how to help

You can make the brochures and safety cards
available to people you know
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
Key Messages
Communities working together can make a
difference in abused women’s and children’s
lives


Talking to abusive men is critical to ending
woman abuse
Abusive behaviour won’t go away by itself.
There are services to help men who abuse
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
How Can I Support Her?
•
Talk to her about what you
see and assure her that you
are concerned
•
Tell her you believe her and
that it is not her fault
•
Provide information about
safety
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Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
Safety Planning for Women
•
•
•
•
Develop a Safety Plan – it’s critical!
Getting Ready to Leave
Leaving the Abuser
After Leaving
Referral Information:
The Assaulted Women’s Helpline,
and other women’s services in your
area
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Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
What Can I Say?
When someone you care about is acting abusively:
•
Approach him when he is calm
•
Tell him that you are concerned for
the safety of his partner and children
and that there is help for him
•
Recognize that confrontational,
argumentative approaches may
make the situation worse and put her
at higher risk
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
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a domestic violence workplace program
The Occupational Health and
Safety Act changed in 2010 to
make workplace violence a safety
hazard.
Everyone in a workplace has a
responsibility to prevent
domestic violence.
All workplaces must have policies
and procedures to keep workers
safe.
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
A Common Misconception
Woman Abuse/Domestic Violence
is a private issue
In Canada, woman abuse in the workplace has
been invisible
The tragic death of Lori Dupont has awakened us to
the fact that it is a workplace issue
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
Critical Events and Opportunities
• Critical Events
• Visible warning signs and risk factors
• Should raise possibility of danger
• Opportunities
• A chance to intervene
• Can be missed because of uncertainty or
missing information
• Organizations and individuals are unprepared
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
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Critical Events & Missed Opportunities
Dupont Inquest
90
84
80
70
60
50
37
40
30
20
10
0
Oct 03 / Apr 04 / June 04 / Aug 04 / Oct 04 / Dec 04 / Feb 05 / Apr 05 / June 05 / Aug 05 / Oct 05 /
Mar 04 May 04 July 04 Sept 04 Nov 04 Jan 05 Mar 05 May 05 July 05 Sep 05 Nov 05
(1,1)
(2, 1)
(0, 2)
(1, 1)
(0, 3)
(0, 2)
(8, 12) (10, 26) (6, 17) (4, 11)
(5, 8)
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
Events
Series1
Series2
Opportunities
NFF – “Model Program”
Dupont / Daniel Inquest - Recommendations
“to provide support to all workplaces to train all employees
about the dynamics of domestic violence….as well as what
to do if faced with a situation where violence enters the
workplace
…model programs such as Neighbours, Friends and
Families may be expanded in Ontario and be more directly
inclusive of the role of the workplace”.
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
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NFF in the Workplace
Includes:
• Why Workplaces Need to be Involved
• The Dynamics of Domestic Abuse
• How to Interrupt the Isolation
• How to Intervene Safely and Respectfully
• How to “open the door”…
• Understanding the Traps of Why She
Does Not Leave
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
Know the Rule of Isolation
Isolation is a factor that is always present in
situations of woman abuse
…It could even be considered a necessary
condition
As the abuse escalates – the isolation
becomes more profound
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
Behaviours Designed to Interrupt Isolation
1. Learn to Recognize signs of abuse
2. Respond - Don’t sit alone with suspicions
and questions
3. Seek help and take appropriate action –
Refer to professionals
SEE it – NAME it – CHECK it
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
How do we prepare ourselves?
Start with Heart
You can’t go wrong if you intervene
from a place of genuine concern and
care…
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
Neighbours, Friends and Families
Websites
www.neighboursfriendsandfamilies.ca
www.kanawayhitowin.ca
www.voisinsamisetfamilles.ca
www.makeitourbusiness.com
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
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How it Works
Engaging The Potential and Power of Everyday Relationships
Relatives
Friends
Co-Workers
YOU
Neighbours
Committees
Manager
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
YOU
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to be a hero or fix the situation.
Caring about the people around us, paying
attention to them when there are signs of
trouble and responding appropriately can
make a big difference.
Little things count.
Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
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Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work
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