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Partner Violence: CreatingA Workplace Program

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Partner Violence Basics

• Partner violence is abusive behavior

between two people in an intimate

relationship

• Partner violence is an issue of CONTROL

• The highest risk factor for being involved

with partner violence as an adult is exposure

to violence between parents in family of

origin

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Partner Violence Statistics

• Every 15 seconds, someone in the US is battered in a partner violence situation

• FBI crime statistics indicated that victims of domestic violence are primarily female

• In 1996, approximately 1,800 murders were committed by intimates

• A November ‘98 survey found that 1 of every 5 couples experienced domestic violence in the past year

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• American businesses pay an estimated $3 to $5 billion a year in medical expenses associated with domestic violence

• Businesses forfeit another $100 million a year in lost wages, absenteeism, and non-productivity due to partner violence

• 37% of women involved in partner violence felt its impact in the workplace reflected in lateness, missed work, difficulty keeping a job, and difficulty advancing in their careers

Partner Violence Statistics(continued)

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• 94% of corporate security directors rank partner violence as a high security problem

• 78% of human resource professionals consider partner violence a workplace issue

• Partner violence contributes to lost productivity due to premature death: Homicide is the #1 leading cause of death on the job for women, and 20% of those were murdered by their partner at the workplace

Partner Violence Statistics(continued)

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History of CAEPV

• Founded in 1995 by State Farm Insurance Companies as a nonprofit alliance of corporations with a mission to educate and aid in the prevention of partner violence.

• Currently corporate members represent over half a million employees across the United States

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Creating a WorkplaceProgram

• Step One: Organize a cross-functional team to oversee the process

• Step Two: Announce your involvement in the issue

• Step Three: Develop a corporate policy on partner violence

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• Step Four: Train supervisors and managers on recognizing partner violence and handling situations

• Step Five: Build awareness through workplace communications

• Step Six: Involve employees in making your plan a success

Creating a WorkplaceProgram

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• Step Seven: Broaden communications to include members of our community including stakeholders in your industry and other organizations

• Reach out to community organizations

Creating a WorkplaceProgram

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Next Steps

• Make a commitment today to do something to prevent partner violence

• Ending partner violence, whether in the workplace or in the community—IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS