A national benchmark survey of 1200 employed adults (age 18 plus) found that intimate partner violence has a wide and far-reaching effect on Americans' working lives - whether in terms of economic productivity, personal safety, office culture or other issues. At the same time, employers have failed to respond to domestic violence's impact, with most respondents lacking access to much-needed workplace policies or programs.

First-Hand Knowledge
Fifty-seven percent of respondents know someone who has been affected by domestic violence, and 44% have personally experienced domestic violence's impact on the workplace, most frequently because a co-worker was a victim (45%) -- a response that was consistent across educational levels, from a high school degree or less (43%) to some college (44%) to college graduates and beyond (48%).

"Because domestic violence's impact does not end at the office front door, America's employers need to take action - putting in place accessible programs and policies for colleagues and victims alike. Fortunately, effective programs are easy to establish and need only provide support and a safe environment, allowing professional counselors to come in and truly help those in need," said Kim Wells, Executive Director, the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence, the study's sponsor.

Significant Impact
Specifically, a majority or more of respondents noted that domestic violence had the following significant impact on victims in the workplace:

• 71% believe victims lived in "fear of discovery."



• 67% said victims needed "to seek out co-workers for additional help."


• 65% noted that the "intimate partner harassed their co-worker at work (by phone or in person)."


• 63% believe victims suffered from an "inability to complete assignments on time."


• 59% found victims lived in "fear of their intimate partner's unexpected visits."

Covering for Victims
Moreover, 31% of respondents felt "strongly" to "somewhat obliged" to cover for a victim of domestic violence by performing his or her work or offering excuses for his or her absence. Additional reported impact included:

• 27% reported "extremely frequently" to "somewhat frequently" having had to "do the victim's work for them."


• 25% resented co-workers from "great" to "some extent" because of the effect of their situation "on the workplace."

Workplace Safety
In addition, 38% of respondents were "extremely" to "somewhat concerned" for their own safety when they "found out a co-worker was a victim." Thirty-two percent believe the co-worker victim feared "for his/her safety" - perhaps because 30% reported that the abuser frequently visited the office.

• 19% said it took "over a year" for the problem to be resolved.


• 23% said "several months."

Employer Support
Twenty-one percent of respondents identified themselves as victims of domestic violence. In these victims' experience, employers provided relatively limited support - with 31% reporting that their employer offered "no programs, support or help." However, victims did point to receiving the following help:

• 23% "Access to counseling and assistance"


• 18% "Information and referral to domestic violence programs"


• 12% "Contacting authorities"



• 12% "Providing security"


• 8% "Providing flexible leave time and other benefits"

Two-thirds (66%) of all respondents were unaware of or did not know if their employer has a domestic violence policy or program in place.

About the Survey

The Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence (CAEPV), the only national non-profit created by the business community to educate and aid in the prevention of intimate partner violence through the workplace, commissioned the study. Contributing sponsors include the following CAEPV members: Verizon Wireless, the Blue Shield of California Foundation, Liz Claiborne Inc., Mary Kay Inc., State Farm Insurance Companies and Park National Bank.

Group SJR, a national survey research and communications firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles, fielded the study from July 15 to September 10th, 2005. The 1200 person national telephone survey has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent

The Study's Definition of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is the use of physical, sexual or emotional abuse or threats to control another person who is a current or former husband, wife or other intimate partner, such as boyfriend or girlfriend.

How CAEPV can Help
Since 1995, the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence has brought together dozens of progressive companies who exchange information, collaborate on projects, and use their influence to instigate change. The Alliance offers extensive research, policy knowledge and issue expertise to the business community, including training, program guidance, and crisis consultation - with programs designed to make the workplace safe and to prevent intimate partner violence from impacting the workplace.

For information on how to address domestic violence as a workplace issue, including a sample policy, visit the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence website at www.caepv.org or request a sample policy and six step plan by e-mailing caepv@caepv.org.