Reasons Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence Seek Assistance From Employee Assistance Programs

Abstract

This research explores the reasons that employed adult women (N = 760), living in the United States, who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) contacted the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Women who contacted their EAP most often sought counseling or referrals for mental health or legal services. Most women who contacted their EAP did so because they did not know where to turn for help, gained access to an EAP, or were encouraged by a workplace manager/supervisor of family/friend. These results suggest that EAPs should work closely with workplace supervisors/managers and employees to provide information regarding EAP access and available resources.

KEYWORDS:

• employee assistance
• employment
• intimate partner violence
• workplace violence

This research was supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. We would also like to thank Kim Wells of the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence and Douglas Leach, Workplace Consultant for Domestic Violence, for their thoughtful contributions and guidance on this research.

Notes

^a Due to rounding, percentages for each variable may not add up to 100.