At this month’s Manager Briefing, Glenda Bawden, Principal Strategic Advisor, Family Violence, led a conversation about how managers can support a team member who may be experiencing family violence.
In a health service as large as ours, the impact of family violence is significant, and while these conversations can be difficult to navigate as a manager, it’s important to know that the workplace can be a significant support for those facing violence.
What does family violence look like?
Glenda outlined that while women make up a high percentage of family violence victims, family violence can happen to anyone, and there are risk factors (known as ‘red flags’) that increase the likelihood that family violence may be occurring.
Family violence is classed as behaviour towards a person that makes them feel fear for their safety or wellbeing and can be expressed in a number of ways, including:
- physically or sexually abusive
- emotionally abusive
- financially controlling
- threatening or coercive
- controlling
Elder abuse is also a form of family violence which may be perpetrated by a carer as well as family. Children may be impacted and causing a child to hear, see or be exposed to family violence makes them at risk of harm.
Glenda says that “while your team member may not directly come out and say they are a victim of family violence, there may be other indicators. They may be more anxious, distracted, not performing as well as before, or may appear to disengage from their role.”
How do I support my team member or start a conversation?
As a manager, your main role is to notice the signs, offer support, listen, and sensitively enquire if you have concerns. You may be one of the people your team member feels comfortable and safe sharing this information with.
You could start a conversation in a private and safe environment, opening with a general enquiry, then a framing statement:
- How are you going?
- I noticed that you seem to be quite withdrawn from the team and a bit distracted at work — is everything OK?
- Are things troubling you at work or home?
- Do you feel safe at home?
If an employee chooses not to disclose to you, respect their wishes and reassure them. You can let them know if they would like to talk at another time, you are available and reassure them that leave and counselling is available.
For more information, you can download our Family violence manager’s guide to supporting our employees. It provides information on how to support a team member impacted by family violence (it is currently being updated to reflect the updates to Family Violence Leave). There is also a 30-minute eLearn available on Latte that is required for managers.
Family Violence Resources and Support
Visit our Respectful Relationships and Family Violence page for resources to help employees impacted by family violence, along with information to ensure employees can identify, respond and provide advice to help keep people safe.
Prompt
- Download the Family violence manager’s guide to supporting our employees
- Recommended Support Services
- Decision Making Flowchart (page 19)
Intranet
Respectful Relationships and Family Violence page
LATTE module
Family Violence Workplace Response: Supporting our Employees
Family Violence support
- Employee Assistance Program (1300 338 465)
- People and Culture Business Partner via the advice line on (03) 9265 2724 or email hradvice@monashhealth.org
- Call 1800RESPECT
- Contact our Family Violence Team. Glenda Bawden 0484674894 or see Family Violence intranet pages
If you missed the Manager Briefing, you can view it here.
Approved by Chris McLoughlin