Domestic violence and the workplace

Domestic violence isn’t “just” a personal issue. It is likely to show up in your workplace.

This can look like:

Preventing someone from getting to work by hiding their car keys or withholding public transportation money

Sabotaging sleep or childcare, leaving someone exhausted, distracted, or scrambling just to make it to work

Interfering with work through harassing phone calls and text messages, showing up at work, or damaging equipment

One in three* workers will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Of those:

43%

discussed it with someone at work

53.5%

reported that the abusive acts continued at or near their workplace

82%

said it negatively impacted their work

37%

said it negatively impacted their co‑workers

8.5%

reported losing their job because of the violence they experienced

Of Indigenous, Black, and people of colour survivors surveyed**:

53%

reported that racism impacted their experience as a survivor in the workplace

29%

said that race or immigration status was used by their abusive partner in employment sabotage

24%

reported losing their job because of intimate partner violence

WSC’s new training will help ensure your workplace is prepared to respond when domestic violence happens. Learn more about WSC’s Domestic Violence and Your Workplace training.

*Wathen, C. N., MacGregor, J. C. D., MacQuarrie, B. J. with the Canadian Labour Congress (2014). Can Work be Safe, When Home Isn’t? Initial Findings of a Pan-Canadian Survey on Domestic Violence and the Workplace. London, ON: Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children.

**Premila Chellapermal (2022). Intersections Between Employment and Safety Amongst Racialized Women. Toronto, ON: WomanACT.

This project has been funded through Women and Gender Equality Canada Women’s Program.

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