Family Violence — A Workplace Issue?
The connection between family violence and work is increasingly clear. This is in part a result of recognition of family violence as a systemic issue arising from broad social, economic and cultural factors, rather than one relegated to the ‘private’ sphere.
It is also a result of the prevalence of family violence in the lives of those who participate in paid employment.[496] However, the connection is also increasingly clear in light of the benefits of employment for people experiencing family violence on the one hand and, on the other, the effect of family violence on employees, co-workers and workplaces andworkplace productivity and safety. The recognised role of business under the National Plan also emphasises that the government has “rejected the notion that businesses are somehow separate from the society in which they operate and instead [considers them] integrated institutions vested with benefits that concomitantly impose responsibilities”.[497]In the course of the Inquiry, the ALRC consistently heard that employment is vital in providing people experiencing family violence with financial security, independence, confidence, and an environment in which they are safe and treated respectfully. The importance of financial security and independence through employment has been emphasised by Elizabeth Broderick, the Sex Discrimination Commissioner:
The primary way the majority of us lay the foundations of our economic security is through participation in paid work. We must develop better workplace responses to domestic and family violence to ensure that women can stay attached to the workforce. Doing this will mean three things. Firstly, we will protect women’s financial security in the immediate term — women will be less likely to lose their job in a period of crisis. Secondly, if we can keep women attached to the labour market, we will better protect their economic security in the longer term — they will be less likely to live in poverty in their twilight years.
But thirdly, and most importantly from an employer’s perspective, individual businesses will be better able to prevent the unnecessary loss of talented staff.[498]Conversely, the effect of family violence on the potential economic contribution of employees is significant. For example, women like Jenny who have experienced family violence generally have a more disrupted work history, receive lower incomes, and are often in casual and part-time employment.[499]
Family violence also directly and indirectly manifests in the workplace. The results of the National Domestic Violence and the Workplace Survey conducted in 2011 on behalf of the ADFVC indicated that, of those who reported experiencing family violence, nearly half the respondents stated that the violence affected their capacity to get to work—the major reason being physical injury or restraint. In the previous 12 months, 19 per cent of respondents reported that family violence continued in the workplace. Specifically, 12 per cent indicated it occurred in the form of abusive phone calls and emails, 11 per cent stated that it occurred by way of the violent person attending the workplace, and 16 per cent reported a negative effect on work performance arising from being distracted, tired or unwell.[500] The effect on co-workers can also be significant where it results in increased workloads due to absenteeism or dealing with disruptions, such as harassing phone calls in the workplace.[501] In the most extreme cases family violence may result in family violence-related homicide in the workplace.[502]
Finally, the substantial social and economic cost of family violence and its broader implications for employers and the economy cannot be underestimated. Family violence is projected to cost the Australian economy an estimated $15.6 billion in 2021-22.[503] In 2004, it reportedly cost the corporate and business sectors over $1.5 billion through direct costs, including absenteeism, decreased productivity, and staff turnover resulting in recruitment and training costs and the loss of corporate knowledge.[504]