Public Awareness
OPDV Bulletin:
Domestic Violence and the Workplace
The Domestic Violence Model Workplace Policy Initiative
Domestic violence often spills over into the workplace, compromising the safety of both victims and coworkers. Domestic violence impacts the workplace in a variety of ways including lost productivity and increased health care costs, absenteeism, and employee turnover.
Recognizing the impact of domestic violence on the New York State workforce, Governor Pataki released model domestic violence workplace policies for state agencies and private businesses. The goal of these policies is to heighten awareness about domestic violence and to create a supportive workplace environment.
The State Initiative
The state agency domestic model violence workplace policy is designed to provide uniform guidance and consistency to state agencies in addressing the issue of domestic violence and the workplace. The model policy was developed by the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) pursuant to Executive Law §575 (8) with input from various state agencies and state labor organizations.
Personalizing the Policy
Since its release, agencies have been implementing the model policy by tailoring it with specific policy language reflecting agency structure, function and resources. This process included defining the role of management, human resources, EAP, health services, security and other agency resources in identifying, referring and supporting victims of domestic violence. OPDV has worked closely with several agencies providing technical assistance as they drafted their policies and procedures.
Training Resources
To support agency training efforts in implementing the policy, OPDV provided state agencies with a curriculum and video produced by the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FUND). The FUND is a leading national resource on domestic violence issues. The curriculum, "Domestic Violence: A Workplace Issue: A Training Resource Kit for Employers and Domestic Violence Service Providers, and the accompanying video, Domestic Violence: The Workplace Responds, were provided to agency commissioners in May 2001.
The FUND's curriculum was selected because of its solid content, flexible format and its delivery design. The curriculum provides modules that can be used for stand alone domestic violence training or can be incorporated into other agency trainings. The delivery design recommends a co-training partnership between an agency trainer or representative and a domestic violence service provider.
In May 2001, OPDV announced the availability of the curriculum and video to several state professional organizations representing individuals who might participate in policy implementation. Those organizations were: Affirmative Action Advisory Council, Statewide EAP, Employee Health Services, Employee Relations Council, New York State Training Council, and the Personnel Council. OPDV also notified domestic violence service providers of the availability of the curriculum and video setting the stage for partnerships with state agencies in policy implementation and referral.
Private Sector Initiative
The private model domestic violence workplace policy was developed in conjunction with the Department of Labor (DOL) pursuant to Executive Law §575 (9). Modeled closely after the state policy, the private policy is designed to encourage private employers to address the issue of domestic violence and the workplace.
In March 2001, OPDV collaborated with DOL to mail policy information, notice of the availability of resource materials (posters, tent cards and employer handbooks), and notice of a new law regarding unemployment insurance provisions for victims of domestic violence to all private employers in the state. Almost 500,000 letters were mailed out generating over 20,000 requests from businesses for materials.
In the summer of 2001, the Corporate Citizen Initiative (CCI) distributed OPDV's Domestic Violence - It is Your Business: Employer Handbook and Resource Guide, posters and tent cards to all Chambers of Commerce in the state. CCI is a New York-based workgroup with members from private businesses, OPDV and domestic violence service providers designed to promote domestic violence awareness in the workplace.
Future Activities
Over the next two years, OPDV will survey all state agencies and randomly selected private employers to determine their experiences with policy development and implementation.
For more information on the state agency and private employer domestic violence initiatives and employer resources, visit our web site at http://www.opdv.state.ny.us/professionals/workplace/
