The domestic violence situation has always been very serious and far more widespread than reported and certainly more widespread than it should be. The current crisis, like most crises, has seen a tragic rise in domestic violence. Victims are stuck in their homes with their abusers, more trapped than ever, and the situation gives abusers a new level of control.

The truth is, employers and HR in particular can and should help for two very important reasons. First, anyone in a position to help save lives is morally obligated to do so. Second, domestic violence regularly spills over into the workplace and can impact many more people than just the victim.

Domestic Violence Is a Workplace Issue

I recently spoke with expert Kim Brunell, the Associate Director at Control Risks, a global risk consultancy that specializes in this and other workplace risks. She expressed concern that when her organization brings up the threat of domestic violence, “sometimes we get people saying that this is an issue that’s occurring in the personal life of an employee. Is it any of my business?” Brunell believes that this is a workplace issue, and she explained three reasons why.

1. Domestic Violence Can and Will Spill Over into the Workplace

If an employee has been working from home “under the isolation and control of her abuser, a return to the physical workplace may be the victim’s first opportunity to escape her abuser,” says Brunell. As workplaces provide the option to work from the workplace, many abuse victims will likely take that opportunity. According to Brunell, “This may represent a loss of control to the abuser and could become a trigger and present an elevated concern for workplace violence” to spill into the workplace.

2. Abusers May Have Secret Access to Work Documents, E-Mail, and Files

Brunell warns that when an employee is a victim of domestic violence and works remotely, the person may find himself or herself “with an abuser who uses the pandemic as a scare tactic to keep the victim at home and completely isolated from others.” She goes on to say that if part of that control involves “listening or monitoring work communications or reading and editing company e-mails, that presents a data privacy or security concern for the employer.”

3. Victims of Domestic Violence Can and Will Fall Behind on Their Work

Speaking of worker productivity in the context of something terrible like domestic violence can be difficult. However, such victims often have serious productivity and performance issues that may be invisible to their employer. Employers that do not have the tools they need to identify when an employee is a victim may take disciplinary action against that employee without understanding that what the person really needs is help.

Employers Truly Can Help

Domestic violence is uncomfortable. It can seem like a private matter that is none of anyone else’s business. However, employers in general and HR specifically are in a unique and critical place to genuinely provide assistance to these victims. When you consider how often domestic violence escalates to murder, anyone who can help really should help. And employers have every reason. Not only can they help someone escape violence, but they can also show their employees how much they care and improve their organization’s security. Let’s take a look at how.

Have Policies in Place

When an organization does not discuss domestic violence during its orientation, in employee handbooks, or through training and other forms of employee communication, it fails to do something very important: let victims know it is a safe place to discuss their abuse.

Step one should be officially acknowledging the issue so your employees know they can come forward if they are being abused or know of someone being abused. This sets the stage for other important steps employers can take, like listening.

“Model policies providing things like the purpose and goals, the organizational commitment to a safe workplace, and a supportive climate to prevent domestic violence incidents and reduce the negative effects of domestic violence,” says Brunell.

She adds that a good policy should at least include the following:

1. State the purpose and goal of your policy. This should include the organizational commitment to a safe workplace and a supportive climate to prevent domestic violence incidents and reduce its negative effects. This will show public support for victims.

2. Make sure domestic violence is well-defined in your policy. As with many uncomfortable topics, there is a lot of misinformation out there. Define domestic violence and what behaviors constitute it. That includes everything from being controlled, physically assaulted, verbally abused, and stalked. Do your research, and make sure the terms are well-defined.

3. Be clear about the role of protective and restraining orders. Your policy should define what happens when an employee has a restraining or protective order. That means understanding if it prohibits the abuser from coming to the employee’s place of work or if the employee should be required to notify the employer. It helps you put together a plan to keep that employee and others in the workplace safe.

4. Cleary define confidentiality controls and the response to violence. This part of the policy should answer questions like what will and will not be confidential; how you are legally required to accommodate a victim; and which federal, local, and state laws play a role when it comes to taking nondiscriminatory action against a victim or to what degree victims of domestic violence may be disclosed.

Be Open to Learning About Abuse from Employees, and Train Frontline Managers

Once your policies are defined and communicated to employees, having a system in place for abuse victims to be heard by their employer creates the potential for victims to speak up and receive assistance.

“An employer can start by promoting awareness of the increased risk during this time with that combination of stress and isolation and financial strain,” which are all factors that exacerbate domestic violence, says Brunell...