Don't let violence write her reference.
Don't let violence write her reference.
A reference letter is a new beginning. They are written as a symbol of good faith and belief in people’s worth.
But not everyone who deserves one gets one.
Domestic violence is an epidemic that doesn’t stop at home—it follows women to work.
1 in 3 workers has experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner.
82% say it impacts their work.
But workplaces don’t see the real story. They see absences. Mistakes. A change in behaviour.
They don’t see survival.
That’s why Women’s Shelters Canada is launching training to help employers and employees recognize the signs of domestic violence at work and know how to respond.
This is a reference letter on behalf of every woman living with domestic violence.
A wake-up call for workplaces to take this crisis seriously.
Help be her reference.
To whom it may concern,
This is a reference letter for the women who never got one.
The women who skipped days without notice. Who showed up late but still left early. Who spent all day with one eye on their phones.
Some might have called it poor performance. But what if those moments had told a different story? The story of someone experiencing domestic violence.
One in three workers will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.*
Over 80% will see their work performance impacted negatively as a result.*
They lose promotions. Lose jobs. And lose their references.
That’s why we’ve launched a new training program to help workplaces recognize the signs, understand their responsibilities, and support survivors.
Sign up for this training to access resources, and take action.
Let this be their reference letter. Not only for the next job, but for the ones they deserved to keep.
Sincerely,
*C. N. Wathen, J. C. D. MacGregor, and B. J. MacQuarrie (2014). Can work be safe, when home isn’t? Initial findings of a pan-Canadian survey on domestic violence and the workplace. Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children.
1 in 3
Workers has experienced DV
Over $100 M
Lost annually due to direct and indirect impacts of DV
82%
say it negatively impacts their work
Be part of the change
Sign up for the Domestic Violence and Your Workplace training to help spot the signs of domestic violence in the workplace.
This project has been funded through Women and Gender Equality Canada Women’s Program.
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