Printer-Friendly Version

Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.

Domestic Violence Spills Over To The Workplace: Labor Department Provides Tools To Combat The Problem. [10/28/1996]

For more information call: (202) 219-6611

To help educate the public on the effects of "domestic violence" in the workplace, the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau has released a fact sheet on this devastating problem . Domestic Violence: A Workplace Issue details this underecognized issue and provides women, employers, unions, and organizations with the latest sources for information and support.

"It used to be that when you heard the phrase domestic violence' you thought only of violence in the home," says Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich. "In fact, domestic violence follows thousands of women to work everyday, and the Labor Department wants to make sure that they know where to go for help."

Each year nearly one million individuals become victims of violent crime while working or on duty. Women are about six times more likely than men to be attacked by an intimate -- a husband, ex-husband, boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend. In addition, 96% of domestic violence victims have some type of problem in the workplace as a result of the abuse. Recent studies show that domestic violence can interfere with a woman's ability to get, perform or keep a job. These problems which range from tardiness, missing work, and poor performance can ultimately lead to strong reprimands or job dismissal.

"Many employers are unaware that domestic violence affects their employees' job performance or don't know how to help them," says head of the Women's Bureau, Ida L. Castro. "This fact sheet provides simple guidelines identifying Federal, State and Local resources available to victims and employers."

Domestic Violence: A Workplace Issue fact sheet also highlights innovative domestic violence initiatives by companies such as Liz Claiborne, Inc, Marshalls Department Store, and Polaroid Corporation.

For a copy of the fact sheet, contact the Women's Bureau at (800) 827-5335 or by Internet at www.dol.gov/wb/.

Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.