ABSTRACT
Domestic violence homicides represent a tiny fraction of workplace incidents. More frequent incidents are stalking, threats, and harassment. While employers many times are hesitant about involving themselves into the personal lives of their employees, they nevertheless become involved when domestic violence and stalking become part of the workplace environment. Domestic violence can have a significant impact on workplace safety. When an employee is in an abusive relationship, it is not uncommon for the abuser to seek out the abused partner at work, endangering not only the victim but possibly coworkers as well. Supervisors and security personnel should learn how to better recognize signs of domestic violence and understand how it may affect workplace safety. A critical point is that domestic violence typically escalates in frequency and intensity over time. A workplace domestic violence prevention program initiative should be incorporated into the company’s overall safety plan.
