Webinar aims to help local employers address workplace and intimate partner violence

WARNING: This story contains discussion of intimate partner violence and suicide

The issue of intimate partner violence will be front and centre on Aug. 21 at a webinar organized by the Windsor-Essex Working Toward Wellness (WTW) committee.

WTW chair, Jon Beveridge saysthe committee is committed to enhancing awareness and fostering skills to address a number of health and well-being topics, including intimate partner violence.

According to the WTW, the webinar is timely given arecent case in the Windsor-Essex regionin Junewhich was deemedto be intimate partner violenceby police.

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"It's a very sensitive matter when a potential victim or a victim doesn't know the right course of action to try to alleviate whatever is going on. There's that fear, of course, of making it worse by reporting to whomever," Beveridge told CBC News.

Employers cannot sit idly by

Beveridgesaid while there is the question about what kinds of resources are available at various places of employment, and employers can only take action on what's occurring on their premises, "when things are happening outside of the workplace employers cannot sit idly by and need to support that individual."

Figures provided by WTW show that there were35 reported femicides, between Nov. 26, 2023, and June 30, 2024 in Ontario. Thirty-one of these women were known to the person who killed them, such as a current or former intimate partner, a family member such as a father or son, or by a man otherwise known to them.

Heidi Petro, manager of Occupational Health and Safety & Wellness at Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) says they are partnering with WTW on the webinar.

"We are pleased to be sharing Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's Code of Conduct and the strategies our staff use to prevent workplace violence and address intimate partner violence in our hospital," Petro said.

'A culture of safe reporting'

Petro said HDGH has a robust program aimed at ensuring compliance with Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act, specifically Bill 168 (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace).

"When we think about intimate partner violence, and having an employee reach out someplace in the workplace to have that initial report, I think we need to lay the groundwork as employers to make sure that we have a culture of safe reporting," Petro told CBC News.

"Much of that is that continuum of making sure that all the other potential avenues for violence or harassment that are more internal within an organization are dealt with, so that our employees receive that messaging that if there's conflict with a co-worker, if there's conflict with someone who you're providing service to, we will deal with that and address that."

The webinar is open to all interested parties at no cost.

Beveridge said organizers are hopeful it will make a difference.

"It's about moving the needle here. We've got to work together. As sensitive as it is, and as traumatic as it typically would be co-workers can play a role as well," he said.

Beveridge said if victims confide in a co-worker, that person should "encourage them to speak up. [Tell them] it's important for your safety."

For anyone affected by family or intimate partner violence, there is support available throughcrisis lines and local support services. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:

• Canada'sSuicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988.
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling onthe website.
• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention:Find a 24-hour crisis centre.
• This guide from theCentre for Addiction and Mental Healthoutlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.
• Those in the Windsor-Essex area of Ontario can also call Htel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's 24-hour crisis line: 519-973-4435.