Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work Communities Working Together to End Woman Abuse

Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work

Communities Working Together to End Woman Abuse


The Rationale

In almost every case of domestic homicide, we found that the people around the victim knew what was going on – but

didn’t know what to do about it…

Al O’Marra

(Former) Chief Counsel Coroner’s Office of Ontario

(Former) Chair, Domestic Violence Death Review Committee



Woman Abuse/Domestic Violence

is a private issue

In Canada, woman abuse in the workplace has been invisible

The tragic death of Lori Dupont has awakened us to the fact that it is a workplace issue

A Common Misconception


Critical Events & Missed Opportunities Dupont Inquest

84

37 Events

Opportunities


Domestic Violence is Common at Work

• 24% of employees have experienced domestic violence

• 70% of people experiencing domestic violence are victimized at work

• 54 % miss three or more days of work a month

• 22 % of workers report that they have worked with someone who has been a victim of domestic violence


Workplace Implications

• Economic costs - $4B /year in Canada (partial costs)

• 74% of victims are harassed while at work, which puts themselves and all people present at the workplace at risk

• In 9 out of 10 workplace incidents, the victim confides in a co-worker

• Most workplaces are unprepared

CREVAWC: 1998Zachary 2000

7


Why Involve Workplaces?Perpetrators choose her workplace as a means to access her because often this is a factor in her life

that remains unchanged and predictable.

Even if she has changed residences to isolate herself from the perpetrator, she may still experience the negative actions at work.

8

Zachary, 2000


Ontario Occupational Health & Safety Act

The employer’s duty:

“take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances” for the protection of workers when they are aware of – or ought reasonably to be aware – that domestic violence may occur in the workplace, and that it would likely expose a worker to physical injury”


NFF @ Work

Adapted from Neighbours, Friends &Families public education campaign

Teach everyone in the workplace:

•To recognize warning

•To respond safely and effectively

•To make appropriate referrals


How it WorksHow it WorksEngaging The Potential and Power of Everyday RelationshipsEngaging The Potential and Power of Everyday Relationships


YOUYOU

Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work13

The NFF@Work Program

Level 1: Information• Introduce campaign and materials to all employees

Level 2: Education• 1 hour ‘core content’ presentation to all employees

Level 3: Sustainability •2 Day Facilitator Training

•2-Day: Train the Trainer / Senior Team training (MIOB)


Workplace Scenarios

• Responding to warning signs– Scenario 10

• Responding to risk factors– Scenario 12


The Model

• MCCCEWA hired Eric Magni, a retired Ministry of Transportation employee

• Eric had spent 35 years in Engineering and Construction

• Received 2-day training from CREVAWC to be able to deliver one hour presentation

• Has become a strong ally for VAW sector


The ModelNFF Coordinator worked

– 8 months a year– 15 hours a week– Total of about 500 hours– 500 hours @ $25 per hr = $12,500

Coordinator paid with– NFF project funds, plus– Portion of CC’s annualized funds from MCSS


Results

Achievements in 2009 and 2010• Information distributed to over 400 workplaces• 69 Workplaces have become NFF Workplace

Champions involving approximately 3,500 employees

• 50 presentations to workplaces


Results

Achievements in 2009 and 2010• 2 Annual Facilitator Trainer workshops in

Strathroy• 2 Annual Recognition/Award Events in Strathroy• Various advertising: newspapers, radio,

billboards


Provincial Results

• NFF Workplace Champion Award Ceremonies in 9 communities

• 300 + workplaces recognized as NFF Workplace Champions

• Program recognition from Wayne DeLorme, Associate Director of the Occupational Health and Safety Branch, MOL


Implementation Support

• Mentoring from the NFF Workplace Consultant

• Workshops and teleconferences with NFF@Work Coordinators from across the province

• Support to organize an annual Workplace Champion Award Ceremony


Benefits to CCs

• An opportunity to broaden the audiences we can reach with messages about prevention and response

• Wider public engagement and understanding of the issue

• Potential for a coordinated approach across the province


Benefits to CCs

• Address the problem named on the survey of low level of recognition for VAWCC work

• Build relationships with non-profit, public and private sector workplaces

• Increase visibility and increase support for our work

Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work 23

Coordinating Committees across the province


a domestic violence workplace program

The Future

Documents

Neighbours, Friends and Families @ Work Communities Working Together to End Woman Abuse