Domestic violence reaches all classes of society

One out of three American women reports being abused at some point in her lifetime. One in five employed adults in the United States is a victim of domestic violence. For those of us who work at large companies, that means we may be working side by side with hundreds of people touched by domestic violence.

Domestic violence reaches all classes of society, all educational and socio-economic levels, and extends far beyond the home. Victims of domestic violence bring the uncertainty and fear of their situation with them to work every day. Fortunately, businesses can play a positive role in addressing domestic violence and helping employees who are suffering any form of abuse.

At Verizon Wireless, we recently began offering training focused solely on the impact of domestic violence in the workplace — the Safe- Work program. This training helps us recognize and address domestic violence and the significant impact it has in the workplace so we can better respond to employees who seek help with their unique situations.

This October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I encourage other companies to pause and look at what they can do to help their employees. Here are just a few idea-starters:

• Implement a program that allows employees to come forward discreetly, whether for themselves or a co-worker.

• Incorporate a section on workplace and domestic violence in your code of conduct.

• Make available an employee assistance program for confidential, 24-hour assistance.

Helping victims of domestic violence is not only the right thing to do; it's also good business.
Patrick Devlin
President, New York/
New Jersey
Metro Region
Verizon Wireless
Orangeburg, N.Y.