Domestic violence impacts the business sector in lost wages, sick leave, absenteeism and non-productivity for the victims and attackers. The Workplace Violence Institute estimates that workplace violence costs employers about $35 billion dollars annually. Workplace violence is the leading safety and health concern in today’s workplace[1]. Approximately 20,000 U.S. employees are threatened or attacked in the workplace every year by partners or spouses[2] and 7,000 employees are murdered in the workplace annually. Homicide by intimate partners is the number one cause of workplace death among females[3].

The Workplace Institute estimates that domestic violence costs employers $3-$5 million dollars annually. In the workplace, the economic costs of family violence include reduced productivity, absenteeism, economic insecurity/lost wages, downward mobility, cots of protection of victims, excess health care costs, injury, and death. Abusers have a significant impact on their victims’ performance while on the job. Ninety-six percent (96%) of battered women experience problems at work due to abuse. Seventy-four percent (74%) of victims are harassed at work by abusive husbands and/or partners. Harassment causes 20% of victims to lose their jobs. 56% of female domestic violence victims are late to work more often than those that are not victims; 28% tend to leave work early and 54% tend to miss work completely. It is estimated that 1 out of 5 workdays missed by women is related to domestic violence.

Abusers attempts to sabotage their victims’ attempt to work include calling employer;

ordering victim to quit; making allegations; requiring the victim to appear before police, court, or social services; sabotaging the victim’s car; beating on the way to an interview; stealing work uniforms; starting fights each day before school or work; encouraging drug addiction.

Under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, employers have the responsibility to protect its employees while they are in the workplace. The number one reason employers will be sued by their employees is sexual harassment, especially when an intimate partner creates a hostile work environment and the employer fails to take corrective action. Companies can face catastrophic liabilities if an employee is harmed or killed by a partner while at work.

Recent polling among corporate management reveals an increased level of awareness about the impact of domestic violence on an employer. As many as 94% of corporate security officers ranked domestic violence as a high security problem at their company. 80% of Human Resource professionals said that domestic violence is a workplace issue. A survey of Fortune 100 companies conducted by Liz Claiborne, Inc. found that 49% of corporate leaders surveyed said that domestic violence had a harmful effect on their company’s productivity, 47% said it had a harmful effect on attendance, 44% said that it had a harmful effect on health care costs, and one third believed domestic violence affected their balance sheet. Finally, two-thirds believe financial performance would improve by addressing domestic violence among employees.

[1] Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
[2] U.S. Department of Justice
[3] Workplace Violence Institute