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1

A domestic violence workplace program

for Ontario employers

Taking a Whole Company Approach

A Whole Company Approach

Start from the Human Being

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Domestic violence is considered workplace

violence under the terms of the Ontario OHSA

Under section 32.0.4 of the Act

if an employer is aware or ought to be aware

that domestic violence that is likely to expose a

worker to physical injury may occur in the

workplace, the employer must take every

reasonable precaution to protect the worker

Occupational Health & Safety Act

Duties: Internal Responsibility System

All parties have roles & responsibilities

Employer

Supervisor

Workers

Ensure compliance (s.25)

Protect workers from violence (s. 27)

Report workplace violence (s. 28)

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The foundation

In almost every case of domestic homicide, we

found that the people around the victim knew what

was going on – but didn’t know what to do about

it…

Al O’Marra

(Former) Chief Counsel Coroner’s Office of Ontario

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Definition

Domestic violence is as any form of physical, sexual,

emotional or psychological abuse, including financial

control, stalking and harassment. It occurs between

opposite or same-sex intimate partners, who may or may

not be married, common law, or living together. It can also

continue to happen after a relationship has ended.

(Can Work Be Safe When Home Isn’t? 2014)

• 33.6% experienced / are experiencing DV

• 53.5% experienced DV at work

• 35.4% know a co-worker experiencing/experienced DV

• 11.8% know a co-worker behaving abusively to spouse

Prevalence Rates

Increased prevalence with vulnerability

• Aboriginal respondents

• Respondents with disabilities

• Sexual orientation other than heterosexual

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40% abusive texts, phone calls

20% stalking, harassment

18% partner comes to workplace

15% abusive email messages

14% contacts co-workers, supervisor

How DV comes to work

Among those

exposed to DV...

38%reported that DV

affected their ability

to get to work

8.5%had lost a job due

to DV

“He pretended to be security and dragged me out of work.”

“I was in trouble for missing a lot of work and now I can’t

miss workwithout a doctor’s note.”

“I was extremelynervous about sharing my

situation… so far they have been very helpful and

understanding and have also respected my privacy and been

careful not tointrude.”

Disclosures81% Co-workers

45% Supervisor

12% Union

10% HR/Personnel

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Offender Study

• 75% had a hard time concentrating while at work because of their abuse of intimate partners.

• 53% felt their job performance was negatively affected.

• 19% caused or almost caused an accident at work while they were waiting for their partner to call or were on the phone with their partner.

• 66% of respondents believe a company policy would be effective if participation in an offenders program to keep their job is required.

Workplace Homicides

Theresa VinceOn June 2, 1996 Theresa

Vince was murdered at

work by her supervisor who

then killed himself

Theresa had reported

sexual harassment by her

supervisor nearly a year

and a half earlier to upper

management at Sears

Canada

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Lori DupontNov. 12, 2005

Dr. Marc Daniel killed

Lori Dupont, his former

partner, at their

workplace, Hotel Dieu

Grace Hospital in

Windsor

Critical Events & Missed Opportunities

Dupont Inquest

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Oct 03 /

Mar 04

(1,1)

Apr 04 /

May 04

(2, 1)

June 04 /

July 04

(0, 2)

Aug 04 /

Sept 04

(1, 1)

Oct 04 /

Nov 04

(0, 3)

Dec 04 /

Jan 05

(0, 2)

Feb 05 /

Mar 05

(8, 12)

Apr 05 /

May 05

(10, 26)

June 05 /

July 05

(6, 17)

Aug 05 /

Sep 05

(4, 11)

Oct 05 /

Nov 05

(5, 8)

Series1

Series2

84

37Critical Events

Opportunities

Lori Dupont

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Lori tries to end the relationship. Marc threatens

to kill himself (2003)

Marc proposesNov 2004

Lori breaks it off –Marc attempts

suicideFeb 2005

Marc is on administrative suspension, but stalks &

harassesFeb 2005

Marc RTWLori reports / seeks protection

orderApril 2005

Lori starts new relationshipMay/June 2005

Lori requests job change -denied

Oct 2005

Dupont-Danielmurder-suicide

Nov 2005

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Co-workers

Supervisors

Doctors

Union

Security

Human Resources

CEO

Board of Directors

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Oct 03 /

Mar 04

(1,1)

Apr 04 /

May 04

(2, 1)

June 04 /

July 04

(0, 2)

Aug 04 /

Sept 04

(1, 1)

Oct 04 /

Nov 04

(0, 3)

Dec 04 /

Jan 05

(0, 2)

Feb 05 /

Mar 05

(8, 12)

Apr 05 /

May 05

(10, 26)

June 05 /

July 05

(6, 17)

Aug 05 /

Sep 05

(4, 11)

Oct 05 /

Nov 05

(5, 8)

Series1

Series2

Warning Signs

Risk Factors

Workplace Hazard

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Putting the Pieces Together

What do you think?

What would your staff think? Yes No

NoYes

Do the workers have a legal obligation to report?

Duty to Report:

Exercise

Attempt

Threat…physical violence that

is likely to cause harm

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If they are your staff…

what do you want them to do?

Aware or ought to

be aware…

Every precaution

reasonable…

We want them to tell

someone…

EPR Framework – every precaution reasonable

Is it abuse?

• Warning signs

• Risk Factors

Frequent

phone calls

Upset

Job

performance

?

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Policy and Procedures

Blueprint

Policy and Procedures

SNCit

SNCit Conversation

See it: upsetting phone calls repeated

Name it: “He is calling you a lot.”

Check it: “Are you ok?”

Policy and Procedures

Warning signs

Risk factors

Warning signs

Risk factorsYES

NOSafety Coordinator

Risk Management

• Safety Planning

• Risk Assessment

• Monitoring

External Experts

SNCit

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RECOGNIZE:

What are the warning signs and risk factors?

RESPOND:

Every precaution reasonable in the circumstance

REFER:

Who else needs to be involved?

Internal Responsibility System

RECOGNIZEWarning Signs

Risk Factors

• Obvious injuries • bruises, black eyes, broken bones, hearing loss

• often attributed to falls, being clumsy or accidents

• Clothing inappropriate for the season• long sleeves and turtlenecks, wearing sunglasses,

unusually heavy makeup

• Uncharacteristic absenteeism or lateness

“Aware or Ought to be Aware”Workplace Warning Signs

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• Change in job performance• poor concentration and errors, slowness, inconsistent

work quality

• Requests for special accommodations • leave early, change schedule

• Disruptive phone calls, visits

“Aware or Ought to be Aware”Workplace Warning Signs

Recognizing Risk Factors• A history of domestic violence

• Actual or pending separation

• Obsessive behaviour

• Depression of the perpetrator

• The level of violence is increasing

• Prior threats / attempts of suicide

• Threat to kill

• Prior attempts to isolate victim

• Victim had intuitive sense of fear

• Perpetrator unemployed

*39 risk factors identified that indicate potential for lethality

DVDRC 2012 Report

Domestic Violence – 3 Types

Situational couple violence

• most common / arguments escalate to violence

Coercive control*

• abusive partner controls and coerces

• pattern of behaviour

Violent Resistance

• victim of coercive control fights back

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Coercive Control

IncreasingAggression

Situational

High

Lower

MaleDominant

Equivalent (Johnson et al., 2002; LaVioilette, 2005; Martin et al., 2006)

Risk

Gender

RESPOND

Conversation

Framework (SNCit)

Risk Assessment

Threat Assessment

Safety Planning

Monitoring

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1. Sensitivity, support

2. Obtain a copy of the restraining order

3. Risk management

4. Safety planning & monitoring

What is the team’s responsibility?

Samantha does not feel

supported and will likely hide

what is happening to her…

What will be the impact in the video?

Policy and Procedures Domestic Violence

YES

Return to Work

Risk Management

• Risk Assessment

• Safety Planning

• Monitoring

External Experts

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3R Due Diligence: Every reasonable precaution

SNCit Conversation - risk factors present

Critical Event – warning signs recognized

Goes to those responsible for safety who will:

– Safety Planning / Threat Assessment / Risk

Management Plan / Monitoring

A Whole Company Approach

Organizational Readiness

• Two-day interactive, comprehensive education and skill-based practice for senior leaders and teams

Leadership Development

• One-day leadership development ensures managers and supervisors are prepared to engage staff

Develop Awareness

• Senior leader announces program of action to entire organization with a link to company policies and procedures and community resources

Basic Education

• One-hour core content on recognizing warning signs and risk factors to all employees

Plan of Action – whole company approach

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The Human Being at Work

• A strategic approach to meeting OHSA

requirements

• To ensure a “human being” focus as the

organizational response to a worker who is

being abused and is at risk

– Because it is the ‘right’ thing to do

– AND because it will increase safety and

reduce risk

The Compassionate Workplace

Harvard Business Review:Companies that practice conscious capitalism

Evidence from cost-benefit studies for

addressing social problems show that

“the return on investment for implementing

prevention programs and strategies range

from a $2 return for every dollar invested

to as high as $20 for every dollar

invested.”

The Compassionate Workplace

Wells, L., Boodt, C., & Emery, H. (2012).

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The Compassionate Workplace

The research is clear that doing nothing is not an

option. Lack of response condones and rewards

violence – explicitly or implicitly. Unaddressed

violence and harassment have cascading

effects. Doing nothing exposes the organization

and its employees to multiple risks including

physical, psychological, emotional, social, legal,

economical, and competitive impacts.

Namie & Namie, (2011)

McInturff, 2013, p. 7.

The Compassionate Workplace

Conscious capitalism is characterized by the

idea that: “it pays to care, widely and deeply”

about people and the state of the company

culture.

Everyone has a role to play

You don’t have to be a hero or fix the situation.

Little things you do can make a big difference.

Take the warning signs seriously.

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Workplace Resources

Community Resources

CREVAWC Resources

• Make It Our Business

http://www.makeitourbusiness.com/

• Online Risk Management Training

http://onlinetraining.learningtoendabuse.ca/

• Neighbours, Friends &Families

http://www.neighboursfriendsandfamilies.ca