Episode 3 - Why Domestic Violence Is a Workplace Safety Issue

Work is predictable—and that predictability can put survivors of domestic violence in harm’s way. We unpack why homicide remains the leading cause of workplace death for women, how abusers exploit schedules, parking routines, and public staff listings, and what leaders can do to transform policy into real readiness. Drawing from lived experience and frontline examples, we trace the hard truth: when survivors gain independence, including by going to work, abusers often escalate, turning lobbies, stairwells, and parking lots into targets if employers are unprepared.

We walk through the numbers that matter for HR, safety teams, and managers: the prevalence of partner-perpetrated workplace homicides, the scale of stalking, and the unintended exposure that protection orders can create by listing workplace addresses. Then we shift to action. You’ll hear how a dental office prevented a potential attack because staff had been briefed, knew how to stall, and called security fast—proof that training, not just paperwork, saves lives.

From there, we lay out a practical path, highlight the two big mistakes to avoid, and explain why calling police, cannot be what you depend on. Any organization can close dangerous gaps without slowing business.  We'll keep showing you how!

If you lead HR, run security, or manage a team, this conversation gives you the tools to protect your people where risk is most likely to show up. 

Subscribe, share this with a colleague who owns safety planning, and grab the workplace safety checklist at incasemurdered.com/safework to spot and fix gaps today!

Transcript

Framing Domestic Violence As Workplace Risk

Speaker 0:00

Episode 3, Why Domestic Violence is a Workplace Safety Issue. Welcome to the Safe Work Advantage podcast, where we help HR professionals, managers, and business leaders create safer, more supportive workplaces for employees facing domestic violence. I'm April Hardy, survivor, advocate, and founder of In Case I Murdered LLC. And this show is where compassion meets compliance and safety meets strategy. When you think about workplace safety, what comes to mind? Slips, trips, falls, maybe active shooter drills or fire exits. What if I told you that domestic violence is a workplace safety issue and a growing one? In 2024, a woman was murdered by her boyfriend in the parking lot of the hospital where she worked. She had taken out a protection order. She had changed her phone number. But she still had to show up for work every day, and he knew exactly where to find her. That tragic story isn't rare. The number one cause of workplace death for women is homicide. And most of the time, the killer is a current or former partner. That story hits close to home for me because I know what it's like to have your workplace become a target. Part of the time when I was in an abusive relationship, I was self-employed. I thought that would keep me safer. No fixed office location, no predictable schedule. But controlling vindictive abusers are relentless. One of my abusers had somebody follow me. Another planted a hidden app on my phone to track and monitor me. Another left a fake review on my Google Business listing trying to ruin my business. And then he followed me online to harass me as I tried to do victim advocacy and education work. I have experience working for others while having abusers as well. In one instance, I worked for my church, and we created a fake last name for me and included no picture on the staff portion of the website so that he wouldn't know that it was me working there. I also let security know about the situation because I didn't want to endanger my life or anyone else there. I also worked as a 911 dispatcher at one point, but even there in the sheriff's department, I was vulnerable because my abuser knew my shift schedule, he knew where I parked, he knew exactly where and when to find me, and he liked to threaten me and cause fights with me while I was at work. Here's what I've learned over the years. It doesn't matter if you work for yourself or for someone else, even in public safety. If someone wants to harm you, they will find you at work. Because work is predictable. You have to show up. You have to be there. A lack of money is one of the major reasons that victims stay in abusive relationships. That means that employment is pivotal to their freedom, while simultaneously putting them at risk of violence and even death. Because if employers aren't prepared, that workplace becomes a hunting ground. At the same time, employers have an amazing opportunity to provide resources and support to domestic violence victims. You can literally help save your employees' lives. That's why I'm so passionate about helping employers create safer workplaces, because I know what it's like to feel hunted at work, and I know what it costs when no one is prepared to help. Domestic violence impacts every corner of the workplace, from morale and productivity to legal liability, but the most urgent and overlooked impact is physical safety. Here's what you need to know: 78% of women murdered at work were killed by a current or former partner. Many survivors are stalked at their workplace, especially if their abuser knows their schedule. Restraining orders often include workplace addresses, making your business part of the safety equation, but also making the abuser fully aware of where they work. Employees may face violence on-site or just outside of your doors, in parking lots, break areas, or lobbies. If you're only preparing for workplace violence from strangers, you're missing the most statistically likely source of risk to your female staff. In the United States, over 1 million women are stalked annually by intimate partners. One in five female homicide victims are killed while at work. And most abusers escalate violence when the victim begins to gain independence, including by going to work. Let's talk about Maria. She worked at a dental office and had just left an abusive relationship. Her manager knew that something was off. Maria had asked if she could park in a different spot and she wanted to be walked to her car. One day her ex showed up in the waiting room. Because staff had been briefed, they delayed him and called security. No one was hurt. But if Maria hadn't felt safe asking or advocating for herself, things could have gone very differently. What you can do. Protecting your employees from domestic violence at work isn't just about policies. It's about readiness. Here's how to start. 1. Create a workplace safety plan that includes scenarios involving known individuals, not just random intruders. 2. Train staff to report concerns and take them seriously, especially when they involve a known threat. 3. Offer resources proactively so victims don't have to out themselves to get the support that they need. Two common mistakes to avoid. 1. Focusing only on external threats. Most violence against women at work comes from someone they know. Most violence against women period comes from someone they know. 2. Ignoring off-the-clock risks. Violence often happens before or after shifts in parking lots, stairwells, or on the way to or from work. Some HR managers say, well, they should just call the police. And yes, the legal steps matter, but the workplace is often where the threat continues. Law enforcement can't patrol your lobby. And when you call them in a violent incident, usually they don't get there until after it's over. That's why you need a response plan. Safe Work Advantage helps to fill the gaps by equipping employees with personal safety plans and giving HR teams ready-to-go tools that don't require disclosure. It complements your workplace safety training and gives your staff control without forcing them to come forward. You can download the workplace safety checklist at incaseimmurdered.com/safework. It'll help you spot gaps in your current safety plan and close them fast. Thanks for listening to the Safe Work Advantage podcast. If you found this helpful, be sure to subscribe and share it with someone in your network. For free tools, templates, and workplace resources, visit incaseimmurdered.com/safework. Until next time, stay safe and help others do the same.