Domestic Violence Doesn’t Stay at Home—It Comes to Work

“I was on my way to a meeting when my phone buzzed. It was him again—threatening, controlling, relentless. I had to focus on my presentation, my clients, my colleagues, but inside, I was terrified. There was no escape.”

For many survivors of domestic violence, abuse doesn’t pause when they clock in or walk through the office door. In many cases, work is happening at the same time the abuse is occurring.

Research shows that 56% of survivors were employed during the period they experienced domestic violence. For these individuals, the workplace often becomes one of the few predictable, safe spaces in the midst of an otherwise uncertain and dangerous time of their lives.

Abuse takes many forms, and all of them can follow survivors into the workplace:

· 22% of survivors were working as they faced dating violence

· 23% were employed at the time they experienced sexual assault

· 20% were working amidst being stalked

These experiences aren’t contained to the home or an employee’s personal time. They follow survivors into meetings, shifts, commutes, and deadlines—often silently and invisibly.

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How Abuse Touches Work Life

Domestic violence doesn’t just impact personal safety—it can touch every part of a survivor’s day, making concentration, attendance, productivity, and emotional well-being difficult to maintain. According to survivors themselves, nearly 8 out of 10 (79%) report that domestic violence made it harder to work.

Survivors may be juggling:

· Fear, trauma, or sheer exhaustion

· Threatening calls, texts, or messages during the workday

· Injuries or court obligations

· Financial control or transportation barriers

· The impossible task of trying to maintain normalcy while living in crisis

Amid all of this, work can feel overwhelming—but it can also be a vital lifeline, offering connection, routine, and sometimes the financial independence needed to rebuild safety.

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Why Workplace Support Matters

Employers can play a life-changing role. A workplace that understands, listens, and provides flexibility and resources can help survivors move from isolation to connection, from fear to hope.

These supportive practices can help survivors:

· Maintain financial independence

· Feel recognized and supported rather than judged

· Safely access help when they are ready

· Begin to rebuild a sense of control and stability

When workplaces recognize that domestic violence isn’t just a personal issue, but a person issue, they create spaces where survivors don’t just survive— they can start to