Last page edit 12/17/07

How to Work With Your Employer to Develop a Safer Environment  

First – Protect yourself - You should maximize your chance of remaining safe.  

Develop a Safety Plan.  
Seek a Protective Order .

Many who have been beaten consider domestic violence to be a very private issue.  But when it comes to protecting yourself from a batterer, it is important to tell the people who are around you most often that you need help. Talk to someone you trust. You are not alone and remember your supervisor is likely to be much more supportive than you think. 

 Suggested Ways to Protect Yourself at Work

• Do you have a protective order? Does it include the workplace?
• Consider giving a copy of the protective order to the police where your job is located.
• Develop a Safety Plan.
• Seek a Protective Order
• Tell your supervisor that you have a protective order and give him/her a picture of your abuser. Explain that the protective order states that your abuser is not allowed to enter your workplace (if your protective order includes your workplace). This is especially important if you work in a fast food restaurant or any place that many people walk in and out of all day.
• See if a co-worker or security person can walk you to your car.
• Get a parking spot close to a door where you exit.
• Can you have calls from a batterer screened? Maybe transfer the calls to security or your supervisor.
• If your name is listed on an automated phone directory, talk to your supervisor about taking your name and number off.
• Talk to your supervisor-Can you relocate your workspace to a more secure area?

Last date of legal review 8/01(MLAN/AC)

Source: Maryland Legal Assistance Network based on an article entitled "Domestic Violence as a Barrier to Emplayment" by Robin Runge, Marcellene Hearn, and Spenta Cama. Clearing House Review (Jan-Feb 2001)