WHAT WE DON’T KNOW…IS HURTING US
What we do know is that Newfoundland and Labrador has among the highest levels of Domestic Violence (DV) in Canada. What we don’t know is the impact of that violence on workplaces in our province.
To understand more, the St. John’s Status of Women Council has partnered with the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women and Children at the University of Western Ontario to launch a critically important survey on the impact of DV on workers and workplaces in Newfoundland and Labrador.
To ensure that our provincial economy can prosper, safe workplaces are essential. Domestic Violence costs the Canadian economy a staggering $7.4 billion annually. The good news is that Canadian and international research has shown that positive change can happen when the right types of policies, training and other supports are put in place.
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Domestic Violence in our communities and workplaces is both a social and economic challenge for all of us. In just 30 minutes, by completing this survey, you can contribute to creating workplace practices that help support victims of DV and their co-workers.
WHO CAN TAKE THE SURVEY?
The survey is anonymous, and participation is voluntary. All workers in Newfoundland and Labrador over the age of 15 are invited to fill it out.
We are working hard to ensure participation from all regions of Newfoundland and Labrador, all genders, Indigenous people, and people with different perspectives and experiences. Your voice is important, whether or not you have personally experienced or witnessed violence.
In appreciation of your time spent completing the survey, you have the option to enter to win one of three $250 prepaid VISA cards.
HOW CAN YOU GET STARTED?
- Fill out the survey at: https://sjwomenscentre.ca/dvatworknl/
- Talk to your co-workers, friends and family and encourage them to take part. Share the link on social media and invite everyone in your workplace to take the survey.
CANADA WIDE STATS:
- A Justice Canada study estimated that businesses lose approximately $78 million annually due to DV, but the real costs are much higher.
- Approximately every six days, a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner. Indigenous women are killed at six times the rate of non-Indigenous women.
- In any given night in Canada, 3,491 women and their 2,724 children sleep in shelters because it isn’t safe at home.
POWER IN NUMBERS
The nationwide survey launched by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the University of Western Ontario in 2014 provided solid data to help us understand national DV trends. This information illustrated that DV is a systemic barrier to women’s economic security. This has severe implications for our province’s labour force and presents a tremendous cost to our economy.
The CLC’s initiative was inspired by ground breaking surveys used to gather data in Australia. The Australian findings identified the prevalence and impact of DV on the workplace and resulted in vital new legislation. It mandated domestic/family violence workplace benefits, including dedicated paid leave and flexible work arrangements.
A growing number of provinces in Canada are implementing DV Leave legislation and policies to make workplaces safer. New Brunswick has most recently implemented DV Leave.
RESULTS FROM THE CLC’s PAN-CANADIAN SURVEY (2014):
- Over 80 per cent of survivors reported that DV negatively affected their working lives.
- Over half (53.5%) of those reporting DV experiences indicated that at least one type of abusive act occurred at or near the workplace. Of these, the most common were abusive phone calls or text messages (40.6%) and stalking or harassment near the workplace.
- 53 per cent of survivors felt their job performance was negatively impacted.
- 75 per cent had difficulty concentrating on their work.
- 19 per cent reported causing or nearly causing workplace accidents due to their violent relationship.
- 40 per cent of those who reported experiencing Domestic Violence, said DV made it difficult for them to get to work.
NOTES:
- Stanford, Jim (2016), “Economic Aspects of Pail Domestic Leave Provisions,” Briefing Paper – Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute.
- Fonseca, Peter (2009), “Bill 168, Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace and Other Maters),” Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
- Lewin, Brent (2012), “Justice Canada study says spousal abuse costs country at least 7.4 billion a year,” National Post.
- Martin-Misener, R., & Valaitis, R. (2009). “A scoping literature review of collaboration between primary care and public health,” McMaster University
- Mojtehedzadeh, Sara (2014), “Domestic violence follows victims to work, survey finds,” Toronto Star.
- Wathen, C.N., MacGregor, J.C.D., MacQuarrie, B.J. with the Canadian Labour Congress. (2014). Can Work be Safe, When Home Isn’t? Initial Findings of a Pan-Canadian Survey on Domestic Violence and the Workplace. London, ON: Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women and Children.
- The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba (2016), “ The Employment Standards Code Injury or Illness and Extension of Compassionate Care Leave.)”
- Statistics Canada (2017), “Labour Force Characteristics Newfoundland and Labrador,” Labour Force Survey