It’s Your Business A Workplace Toolkit Presenters: Marian Hernandez Project Coordinator NB Family Violence and the Workplace Project. MMFC.

History Phase I – Began in research. – Training to Crime Prevention Strategy. – Business grant partnership between MMFC and Chamber of Commerce. Phase II – Report and recommendations. – Representatives. – PLEIS developed the Toolkit. Phase III – Presentation and Evaluation.

Findings Approximately 3 women die every week in Canada at the hands of a partner. Women are abused an average of 30 times before contacting the police. 62% of ALL women murdered in Canada are victims of Family Violence. In 84% of the criminal harassment charges laid in New Brunswick between April 1,2000 and March 31, 2001, the victims were women. (New Brunswick Justice Information Service) In 2000, only 38% of female spousal violence victims in New Brunswick reported the crime to the police and only 41% used a social service. (Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile, 2001, Statistics Canada)

Family Violence and the Workplace Committee The need was acknowledged for the development of a unified and coordinated approach to dealing with the issues surrounding Family Violence and its affects in the workplace. The need was acknowledged for the development of a unified and coordinated approach to dealing with the issues surrounding Family Violence and its affects in the workplace. Thus leading to the formation of the New Brunswick Family Violence and the Workplace Committee.

Our Allies Family Violence and the Workplace Committee members Cendant Canada Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation Fredericton Chamber of Commerce NB Power Office of Human Resources, Government of New Brunswick Chimo Helpline Public Legal Education and Information Services of New Brunswick River Valley Health University of New Brunswick Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada Beausejour Family Crisis Resource Center CUPE Local 2745 New Brunswick Union.

Goals To help businesses take action to address family violence and its impact on the workplace. To promote safer, healthier and supportive work environments for everyone affected by family violence. To develop practical, flexible training tools that will help employers deal with the impact of family violence on the workplace. To support businesses large and small in meeting their social responsibility in preventing family violence from spilling over into the workplace.

Objectives To provide tools that help employers: Raise awareness and help deal with the impact of family violence on the workplace. Develop or adapt supportive policies, practices and programs when it enters the work place. Deliver public Education about family violence and create a positive workplace.

Why is the Family Violence and the Workplace Toolkit Important to you?

Canada ranks 4 th out of 32 countries for the highest number of women assaulted in the workplace. Co-workers are often the first to notice something is wrong. Family Violence is one of the leading contributors of violence in the workplace (the abuser knows where and when to find their victim).

How it Affects Employer’s In 1995, one of first studies on family violence estimated the economic costs to Canadians at $4.2 billion per year. Domestic Violence Leads to: Increased absenteeism Impact On Employee Morale Increased risk for other employees Lost productivity Increased use of workplace benefits (potentially resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue per year). Greeves, L., Hankivsky, O. & Kingston-Riechers, J. (1995). Selected Estimates of the Costs of Violence Against Women. London, Ontario: Research Centre for Violence against Women and Children.)

How it Affects Employees May put employees at risk. Safety concern about their own well being Staff intimidated by abuser. Negative Work Environment. 94% of Corporate Security Directors rank Family violence as a high security problem at their company.

Would you know what to do? What are your procedures? IMAGINE…. How does this affect you personally?

1. Make it your business. 2. Develop or adapt supportive policies and practices that deal with family violence when it enters the work place. 3. Create a positive work place. 4. Strengthen existing policies or programs or add new ones – safe walk, benefits and leaves, threat assessment, etc. 5. Become a Good Corporate Citizen. 1. Donate Services/products. 2. Sponsor/Support community programs Check out the “Model Family Violence Policy” included in the Toolkit! What can Employers do?

Components include: – User’s guide – Fact sheets on the relevant topics – Family violence services (focus on NB) – Resources – videos, pamphlets, links – Family violence “messages” for the workplace – Poster to hang in workplace – Bookmarks to share with employees – “Model” Family Violence policies and safety plans – Promotional brochure and Post Cards – Feedback from (evaluation) – Website that shares what others are doing Components of the Toolkit

1. What is Family Violence? 2. Why employer’s should care about Family Violence. 3. Some Impacts of Family Violence on the Workplace. 4. Family Violence and the Law. 5. Supportive Workplace Policy, Practices and Programs. 6. Creating A Positive Workplace. 7. Being A Good Corporate Citizen. Fact Sheets knowledge is power

Resources TRANSITION HOUSES/SHELTERS- contact numbers & locations. WEBSITE RESOURCES- provincial/national/international. TELEPHONE RESOURCES- help lines. VIDEO RESOURCES- various topics. PUBLICATIONS. POSTERS/BOOKMARKS/BROCHURES.

Website Easy to use. Toolkit itself is downloadable. Available in PDF and WORD files. You may request hard copies through website.

Create awareness – noon hour speakers, messages to employees, pamphlets, posters and resources. Model respectful behavior everywhere in the workplace (stop workplace bullying!) Boost employee morale and reduce stress. Create a Positive Work Place

Make it Your Business to Care Treat family violence seriously. Recognize its impact on the workplace. Take action to make your workplace safer and more supportive for all employees. Use the Toolkit to help you take action. Contact us to let us know what you are doing in your workplace.

Feedback. We welcome feedback! – Was this useful to you? – Do you have success stories? – What are YOU doing? us!

Thank You. Questions?

FV FactsHistory Working Together Government Initiatives Community Programs Women allow abuse to occur“#” times before contacting the police. Approximately 3 Women die every “_” in Canada at the hands of a partner. Canada ranks “_” out of 32 countries for highest number of women assaulted in the workplace. Abuse Including: Physical, Psychological, Sexual, Financial, etc are examples of this. This project was started in 2004, to help businesses address F.V. A man could use a stick no wider than the width of his thumb to hit his wife. In 1929, women officially became these. In 1976, the federal government created ‘this’ to integrate into policy formulation. In 1984, this was amended to affirm that Aboriginal and treaty rights are guaranteed to men and women. ‘This’ happens when info, education and support is provided to break cycle of violence The “_” movement was a resource actualized 28 years ago. These organizations will shelter pets for victims while they are in transition houses. This corp. paired with Transition House to provide volunteers, employees and financial support. National Resources Centre for Canadians seeking info and solutions to violence within the family. There are 5 of these across Canada. The closest one in NB. This initiative was cancelled in 2000 due to a change in Government. This initiative got started 5 years ago by a woman Premier. This initiative has received 2.5 million dollars to continue for 5 more years. This video portrays the experiences and strengths of Black Women. These are violence prevention and awareness campaigns in New Brunswick. This Centre offers a multi-disciplinary graduate course in Family Violence Issues. There are 33 of these in Atlantic Canada. WHAT IS 30 TIMES? In 1995, one of first studies on family violence estimated the economic costs to Canadians at ? WHAT IS $4.2 BILLION PER YEAR? WHAT IS EVERY WEEK? WHAT IS 4 th PLACE? WHAT IS FAMILY VIOLENCE? WHAT IS “Family Violence, It’s Your Business- A Workplace Toolkit WHAT IS THE RULE OF THUMB? WHAT ARE PERSONS? WHAT IS THE STATUS OF WOMEN? WHAT IS THE CANADIAN CONSTI- TUTION? WHAT IS PREVENTION? ‘WHAT IS THE “SHELTER” MOVEMENT? WHAT IS ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE AND THE OROMOCTO SPCA? WHAT IS THE POLAROID CORPORATION? WHAT IS THE NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON FAMILY VIOLENCE? WHAT ARE CENTRES FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE RESEARCH? WHAT IS NOVA SCOTIA’S FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVE? WHAT IS THE PREMEIR’S ACTION COMMITTEE? WHAT IS PROVINCIAL STRATEGY AGAINST VIOLENCE IN NF /LAB? WHAT IS NO MORE SECRETS? WHAT IS CARING PARTNERSHIPS CAMPAIGNS? WHAT IS THE MURIEL MCQUEEN FERGUSSON CENTRE FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE RESEARCH? WHAT ARE WOMEN’S SHELTERS? This program is symbolized by life sized red wooden silhouettes, representing NB victims dead as a result of Domestic Violence. WHAT IS THE SILENT WITNESS PROGRAM? This committee is made up of 14 organization that deem FV as a priority. WHAT IS THE NB FAMILY VIOLENCE AND THE WORKPLACE COMMITTEE?