Domestic violence is a critical issue that affects millions of people worldwide. These are our family members, friends and our coworkers. This violence can take a huge toll on one’s personal life – but what about their professional life?

As companies work to foster a supportive and inclusive environment, it’s essential to have policies and practices in place that help employees who may be experiencing sexual or domestic violence. Beyond a moral obligation, supporting affected employees also promotes a healthier, more productive work environment.

Here’s how companies can better support employees going through domestic violence:

Foster a supportive culture
One of the first and most important steps a company can take is to foster a culture of support, safety and openness. It’s important for employees to feel they can reach out for help without fear of stigma or retaliation.

• Raise awareness: Provide regular training sessions on domestic violence for employees and managers.
• Promote confidentiality: Assure employees that any disclosure of domestic violence will be treated with the utmost privacy and care.

Implement policies and resources
To support employees effectively, companies should implement policies specifically addressing domestic violence and offer resources that employees can access when they need help. I am so proud that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (Blue Cross) was a pioneer in this space. More than 20 years ago we implemented our Shield Against Violent Environments (SAVE) program to help assist employees who are victims of sexual and domestic violence. We provide regular updates to our employees, reminding them of the steps they can take if they would like to reach out to someone for help. We have this information prominently displayed throughout our offices and on our company intranet.

• Flexible work arrangements: Allow flexible scheduling, remote work options, or reduced hours for those in difficult situations.
• Health insurance benefits: Ensure your company’s health insurance plan covers counseling and mental health services, as many domestic violence survivors may need ongoing support.
• Education: Through intranet articles, building signage and volunteerism opportunities, at Blue Cross we make sure that employees are knowledgeable about signs to look for, what to do if you need to help yourself or someone else and aware of the many resources in our communities that are working on the frontlines every single day.

Provide access to professional help
Offering assistance to external resources can make a huge difference for employees in need.

• Partner with local support organizations: While employers should actively learn as much as they can about domestic violence – it’s unreasonable to think you can be the expert on the topic. There are a wealth of resources available to you. Here in Kansas, we support the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence and their partner agencies like the YWCA of Northeast Kansas. These partner organizations can assist you with creating a list of domestic violence shelters, counseling services and legal aid organizations, but they can also step in and directly assist your employees.
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): If your company has an EAP, ensure that it includes access to counselors or legal advice related to domestic violence.

Ensure physical safety at work
There are times when an abuser may show up at the workplace to intimidate or harass an employee. It’s important to have protocols in place to ensure your employees’ safety.

• Security measures: Offer enhanced security for employees, such as changing work locations or parking spots, installing security systems, or having security personnel escort employees out to their car at the end of the workday.

As an employer, it’s our job to ensure our employees feel safe within the workplace. By educating staff, implementing policies and partnering with local experts, we have the ability to offer support for those in need, promoting not only a safer workplace but a stronger, more resilient workforce. If your company would like to learn more about how they can start their own domestic violence support program, we would love to help. Contact Marlou Wegener, Director of Community Relations, to learn more.