Domestic violence is a devastating and pervasive public health issue in the United States. The United Nations defines domestic violence as “a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.” This abuse can be physical or emotional. The national cost of domestic violence, including intimate partner violence, child abuse, and elder abuse, is over 12 billion dollars per year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated one in four women and one in ten men have experienced violence or stalking by an intimate partner. 

Additionally, domestic violence often goes unreported. This is particularly problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic, as some employees may be working from home with an abuser. In fact, COVID-19 has led to a global spike in domestic violence reports. Regardless of the pandemic, some employees may be struggling with the mental health repercussions of prior abuse. The LiveSafe platform can help protect your workforce from domestic violence and its lasting effects by providing mental health resources, rapid communication with local authorities, and real-time two-way messaging assistance.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which occurs each October, is a valuable time to educate your community about domestic violence. Use this toolkit to increase organizational awareness and to take a stand against violence against your employees, both in the office and while working remotely.