Implementing workplace domestic violence policies during COVID-19: What happens when home is the workplace?

Background

A mounting body of evidence has underscored that workplaces have an important role to play in responding to and reducing the harms of gendered violence. Work can act as a strong protective factor in the quality of life and general health of victims of violence. But public and workplace policy lags behind the evidence. There are a limited number of jurisdictions around the world which have robust workplace domestic violence (DV) legislation. There are, therefore, numerous emerging opportunities to redress the gendered harms of DV through the workplace. Yet, to date, there has been minimal exploration of the conditions for the successful implementation of workplace DV policy and initial evidence highlights that the presence of a policy does not necessarily translate into helpful responses by workplaces.

Aim

The project aims to examine how workplaces can effectively implement DV policies in the context of working from home. For victims of DV, work can provide a pathway to safety. Businesses are increasingly recognised as having a responsibility for victims of violence, but workplace DV policies are nascent and assume that the home and the workplace are separate domains. This project particularly focuses on the implementation of DV policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The qualitative study will focus on the jurisdictions of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the states of Victoria and New South Wales in Australia. Co-investigators will partner with anti-violence social services who accredit businesses to access three case studies in each jurisdiction. From there, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with four to five informants within each case study organisation. Five supplementary interviews will be held in each jurisdiction with external key informants such as trade unions, government representatives and specialist support services. These are expected to lead to a total of approximately 60 participants.

Significance

Our project provides urgent knowledge necessary for businesses to continue to support victims of violence in the context of working from home. Workplaces are increasingly recognised as an important actor in protecting victims of violence. However, public and organisational policy lags behind the evidence. This project is the first to focus specifically on the context of working from home. The findings will go directly to strengthening workplace DV accreditation programs and inform policy development in anti-violence social services, which is particularly critical as we understand the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Project start date

April 2021

Expected completion date

June 2026