Domestic or Intimate Partner Violence
Domestic/intimate partner violence falls closer to physical violence, injury, and death at the end of the Johns Hopkins Continuum of Disruptive Behaviors at Work, along with other moderate to severely disruptive behaviors such as bullying, stalking, and stating threats.
It is important to recognize these behaviors, and to say something if you see any of them so that they don’t escalate and cause a greater risk of harm to faculty, staff, students, and the community. In the workplace and academic environment, co-workers and fellow students often know about incidents of domestic/intimate partner violence and are in the best position to elevate the situation for help.
Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System have adopted policies that call for zero tolerance of violent behavior, threats, bullying, and intimidation. Johns Hopkins will not permit employment-based retaliation against anyone who, in good faith, brings a complaint of workplace violence or who speaks as a witness in the investigation of a complaint of workplace violence.
Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence in the Workplace
Watch recording of What to Do When Domestic Violence Enters the Workplace (webinar)
When one partner uses physical violence, intimidation, threats, or emotional, sexual, or economic abuse to control the other partner, it is considered domestic or intimate partner violence. Because the workplace is an easy way for the controlling partner to locate the victim, domestic violence often enters the workplace.
- One out of every four American women report physical abuse by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.
- Businesses lose between $3 and $5 billion annually for medical costs associated with domestic abuse.
- 56% of women who are victims of domestic abuse arrive an hour late for work five times a month, and 42% of abusers are late to work.
Considering these alarming statistics, it is clear that domestic violence or intimate partner violence affects employees in every workplace. Victims of domestic or intimate partner violence can benefit from support that improves his or her safety and addresses emotions related to the abuse.
If you or someone you know is a victim of these behaviors, there are resources to help.
Awareness means understanding that behaviors left unchecked can escalate into violence. If there is a behavior that makes you feel uncomfortable, don’t ignore it. Take action well before the point at which violence might occur. If you or someone you know is concerned about any of these behaviors, contact your supervisor or academic advisor, human resources/labor relations, Security, the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, or the Workplace Risk Assessment program manager at .
