Domestic violence and the workplace: what feds should know

Managers are in a unique position to intervene on behalf of employee victims of domestic violence, the Office of Personnel Management said in a report released Wednesday.

Although the name indicates that domestic violence is an issue of the home, it can spill over to the workplace, the report said. OPM learned that fact the hard way last May, when one of its employees was stabbed to death by a former boyfriend against whom she had requested a court restraining order.

Managers and employees who wonder what they can do to prevent similar incidents from affecting their offices will find useful advice in OPM's most recent publication, "Responding to Domestic Violence: Where Federal Employees Can Find Help."

"This document will save lives," said Bonnie J. Campbell, director of the Violence Against Women Office at the Justice Department. Law enforcement officials can react to domestic violence, she said, but employers can be proactive by intervening before someone has to call 911.

Many managers don't recognize the resources they have available to assist victims of domestic violence, OPM director Janice R. Lachance said. But everyday work schedule flexibilities such as paid and unpaid leave options, telecommuting, temporary assignments and job sharing can be useful for victims who need time away from work to go to court, find a new place to live, or recover from injuries.

OPM's report offers tips on ways to recognize signs of domestic violence, approach suspected victims and refer victims to the right kind of help. The report also includes a personalized safety checklist for victims, and two fact sheets addressing victims' and managers' domestic violence resources.

The report urges federal managers to become educated about domestic violence in order to overcome inaccurate attitudes and beliefs. "Society says [domestic violence] is none of our business," Campbell said, but "we have an obligation as a society to intervene as quickly as we can."