Domestic Violence and the Workplace: What We Can Learn from the Bon Ton Case

 

Last week, The New York Times published an article about a landmark settlement for domestic violence victims in New York regarding employment discrimination.  A woman was sent home from work after disclosing that her estranged husband threatened to kill her.  The store should have continued with their initial response, which was to work with the woman to create a safety plan, including allowing her to use her cell phone while on the job, have access to a secure room, and park closer to the building.  Instead, the manager told the woman she needed to get a protective order. 

Protective orders can be great tools to help someone feel safe.  They are an integral part of many people’s safety plans.  However, they are not for everyone.  Many people’s response when they hear “domestic violence” is to tell the person to get a protective order, commonly known in Pennsylvania as a PFA.  This is not the right thing for everyone and forcing someone to get a protective order takes away his/her agency and continues putting him/her in a position where s/he is not in control of his/her own life. 

As the article states, losing one’s income is just another stressor in an already stressful situation.  I applaud The Bon Ton for realizing their mistake and reaching a settlement.  I hope that other employers realize that by helping employees create a safer work environment for themselves, they can be part of the solution to the problem of domestic violence. 

Written by Katy K.