Family Violence in the Workplace: Why Education Matters More Than Ever

Family violence does not stay at home. It follows people into every part of their lives, including the workplace. For employees experiencing family violence, work can be a place of refuge, but it can also be a place where risks, stress, and impacts become visible. For employers, this reality makes family violence not only a social issue, but a critical workplace safety, wellbeing, and compliance concern.

Across Canada, 1 in 3 workers will experience family violence at some point in their lifetime. Of those individuals, 82% report negative impacts on work performance, attendance, or workplace safety. These impacts are not isolated to individuals. They affect teams, leadership, and organizational culture as a whole.

In Alberta, this issue carries an additional responsibility. All Alberta businesses have a legal duty under Occupational Health and Safety legislation to address the risks associated with family violence in the workplace.

How Family Violence Shows Up at Work

Family violence can manifest in the workplace in ways that are not always immediately obvious, and may impact both the survivor and their colleagues at work. Employees may experience:

  • Decreased concentration, productivity, or engagement

  • Increased absenteeism or presenteeism

  • Heightened stress, anxiety, or fear

  • Safety risks to both the survivor and colleagues, including unwanted contact, stalking, harassment or assault at work

  • Challenges participating fully in workplace culture or advancement opportunities

For coworkers and managers, these impacts can feel confusing or difficult to navigate without the right knowledge or tools. Without education, warning signs may be missed, or responses may unintentionally increase risk for the person experiencing harm.

Why Workplace Education Is Essential

Workplaces play a powerful role in prevention, early intervention, and support. Education equips leaders and employees to recognize signs of family violence, respond safely and compassionately, and connect individuals to appropriate supports, without placing the burden on the person experiencing violence to navigate it alone.

From an organizational perspective, education is also a key part of risk management and Occupational Health and Safety compliance. Employers are required to take reasonable steps to identify hazards, reduce risk, and provide training related to workplace violence, including risks that originate outside the workplace but have impacts within it.

When workplaces invest in family violence education, they are investing in:

  • Safer physical and psychological work environments

  • Stronger employee wellbeing and retention

  • Clear response pathways for leaders and human resources teams

  • A workplace culture grounded in trust, awareness, and accountability

How We Support Workplaces

Our Family Violence Impacts at Work workshop brings targeted learning directly into workplaces. Through leadership training and accessible education for employees, the workshop builds awareness, strengthens response skills, and supports safer work environments.

This is learning that goes beyond awareness, helping organizations meet their obligations while creating more informed, supportive teams.

Topics Include:

  • The unique risks, costs, and disruptions family violence can create in your organization

  • Employer responsibilities and employee rights to safety from family violence impacts in the workplace

  • How to build awareness and recognize the signs of family violence in a workplace context, and support your staff in doing the same

  • Resources and supports for your organization to strengthen employee wellbeing and workplace culture

  • Safe response pathways, effective prevention and safety planning strategies

You’ll come away with practical tools and a strong framework to meet your OHS obligations while creating a safer, more supportive workplace.

To find out more about how we can support your team, contact us at training@thetodaycentre.ca or check out our upcoming workshops.

Moving Forward Together

Addressing family violence in the workplace starts with awareness and grows through conversation, education, and action. This is an opportunity to reflect on how workplaces can show up as safer, more supportive spaces for everyone.

We encourage organizations to start conversations within their teams, review existing support and policies, and take part in workplace education that strengthens both compliance and care.

Because when workplaces are informed and prepared, they can make a meaningful difference, not just in productivity or safety, but in people’s lives.

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