Domestic Violence

Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence Policy

• The City of Toronto is committed to providing a safe work environment and recognizes that domestic/intimate partner violence may impact employees in the workplace.
• The City is legally responsible to take every precaution to protect workers from physical injury if they become aware of an employee in a domestic/intimate partner violence situation.

Policy Objectives

• To support employees who are victims of domestic/intimate partner violence
• To provide access to resources and supports for physical safety, emotional health, and basic material and financial needs
• To protect the health and safety of all employees who may be at risk due to domestic/intimate partner violence situations
• To respect the privacy rights of employees in domestic/intimate partner violence situations

Definitions

• Domestic/intimate partner violence is the intentional use of tactics to induce fear and establish power and control over another in an intimate/familial relationship
• It can include physical violence, sexual, emotional/psychological abuse, verbal abuse, stalking, and using electronic means
• Anyone can be a victim of domestic/intimate partner violence, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, economic status, or education

Responsibilities

• The City will strive to create a workplace free from violence, support victims of domestic/intimate partner violence, and take reasonable measures to protect safety
• Managers/supervisors will understand and uphold the policy, ensure employees are aware of it, and take every precaution to protect workers
• Managers/supervisors will:
  • Understand and uphold the principles of this policy
  • Ensure this policy is explained to employees
  • Be aware of observable signs or behaviours that may suggest domestic/intimate partner abuse
  • Take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for worker protection if they become aware, or ought reasonably to be aware, that domestic/intimate partner violence that would likely expose a worker to physical injury may occur in the workplace
  • Provide informed and supportive responses to employees experiencing or witnessing domestic/intimate partner violence in the workplace. Make these employees aware of resources (internal and external to the City) that are available to assist victims of domestic/intimate partner violence (Note: Resource list is an appendix to this policy)
  • Work with employees who report being the victims of domestic/intimate partner violence that may pose a threat in the workplace in developing a workplace safety plan to protect them and others in the workplace. This plan will be individualized to the circumstances reported but may include elements such as:
    • Resource and referral information
    • Call screening, new phone number, e-mail blocking, removal of employee contact information from public directories
    • Additional security and/or security measures at the workplace
    • Work schedule adjustment to enable domestic/intimate partner violence victim to obtain medical, counselling or legal assistance
    • Workplace relocation
  • Consult confidentially with other City staff (e.g. Corporate Security, Human Resources, Employee Assistance Program) in developing the workplace safety plan
  • Properly document any report of domestic/intimate partner violence
  • Protect the confidentiality of employees who report domestic/intimate partner violence within the limits needed for safety, recognizing that information may need to be shared on a strictly need-to-know basis if an employee’s safety at work is jeopardized
  • Take all reasonable and practical measures to protect workers, acting in good faith, who report domestic/intimate partner violence in the workplace or act as witnesses, from reprisals (acts of retaliation, direct or indirect) or further violence
  • Take appropriate corrective and/or disciplinary actions to address instances in which an employee uses workplace resources to perpetrate domestic/intimate partner violence
• Employees who report domestic/intimate partner violence will be provided with a workplace safety plan, which may include resource and referral information, security measures, and work schedule adjustments

Employee Responsibilities

• Employees who are witnesses to domestic/intimate partner violence in the workplace must report the incident immediately to the supervisor or manager and maintain confidentiality
• Employees experiencing domestic/intimate partner violence are responsible for disclosing any situation that threatens the safety of the workplace and informing their supervisor/manager of any restraining orders that include the workplace as a protected area
• Employees who are witnesses to domestic/intimate partner violence in the workplace are required to:
  • Take action to ensure their own immediate safety in the event of a domestic/intimate partner violence incident
  • Report any such incident immediately to the supervisor or manager
  • Report to their supervisor/manager any information that indicates the safety of any employee in the workplace is at risk as a result of domestic/intimate partner violence
  • Apart from these situations, maintain confidentiality regarding a co-worker experiencing domestic/intimate partner violence