The Role of Employee Assistance Programs in Workplace-Based Intimate Partner Violence Intervention and Prevention Activities

Abstract

Given the widespread impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on the workplace it is critical to understand the involvement of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) in workplace-focused IPV activities. Representatives from a diverse set of 28 external EAPs participated in an “inventory” of practices related to IPV. The study found that the IPV services available to customer companies at the worksite are extensive and primarily include assistance with policy development, delivery of trainings and seminars, delivery of educational/awareness-raising activities, and provision of management/security staff consultation. Yet companies' lack of awareness regarding the role of IPV as a workplace issue challenges the ability of EAPs to deliver extensive workplace-based IPV services.

KEYWORDS:

• domestic violence
• employee assistance programs
• intimate partner violence

This research was supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. We would like to thank all of the Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) who provided information on their companies' activities to address intimate partner violence for clients. Additional thanks are extended to groups and individuals who provided recommendations and feedback on instrumentation and the EAP sample, including the Advisory Group, for this grant.

Notes

Note. Due to missing data, the numbers in each category do not all equal 28.

The focus of the study was on EAP services delivered in the United States, so organizations delivering services internationally were asked to focus on domestic services.