Tuesday, September 30, 2008

What Are You Doing For Domestic Violence Awareness Month (Or Where Is All The Purple?)

I wrote this last year and was thinking about it again this year. I have some updated thoughts. . .but the idea remains the same.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I realize it is also a month to recognize a lot of other really important health and other issues -- most notably breast cancer. But while you see a lot of "pink" around, do you see a lot of "purple"? (Purple is the color that represents domestic violence awareness like pink represents breast cancer awareness.)

I have seen pink mixers, pink bras, pink baseball bats, pink shoes. . . you name it. But why not purple? I have some guesses. (We were really excited in my office when we saw Yahoo's purple campaign because we thought surely they would have SOMETHING about purple and domestic violence. . .but no. So -- we have asked them to consider this really important reason that purple is "cool." We will see what they do.)

A long time ago, no one talked about breast cancer -- they kept it a secret, and somehow it was a "shame" and was their fault. But that has changed, and we no longer blame breast cancer victims. We call them survivors. And we honor them. And we should.

Now -- with domestic violence, we are not exactly there. We are uncomfortable with it because we are not really sure what "causes" it, whose "fault" it is, what we should do about it, or how to even say something to someone. I don't know all the reasons. I just know this -- it is highly uncomfortable for us.

But put all that aside for a moment. I think we can all agree that the one place everyone should be safe and secure is in their own homes where they should feel loved and cherished. And I think we can all learn a bit about how to be healthier in our own relationships (which is also a source of discomfort for us, I think) and also learn how to recognize if someone is in a relationship that is perhaps not as healthy or safe as it could be.

I am not sure it "matters" that I "get" everything about someone else's relationship-- I am really clear that no one deserves to be hit. Or slapped. Or to have things thrown at them. Or to be intimidated. Or for their children to be afraid.

Maybe for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it would be good if we could all do what 32 organizations and businesses in Central Illinois are asking people to do on October 15 and just learn to talk about this -- not argue about it, not decide if it is a "men's thing" or a "women's thing" but just realize it is a thing that impacts everyone. Don't we want everyone to be better and live safely?

Spread the purple!!!!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Workplace Policies and Domestic Violence - Does One Size Fit All?

I often get asked about different kinds of policies to address different types of workplaces with respect to domestic violence. Not all workplaces are the same, and not all workplace cultures have the same kinds of policies. Some are very brief and have a different set of procedures or guidelines to go with their policies, and some policies are all-inclusive. Some workplaces have union employees, some do not.

So there are differences in the way that policies are constructed depending on the organization or type of employer, but not necessarily what kinds of issues should be touched upon. For sample policies and resources you can check out www.caepv.org

For a great policy from an institution of higher education – specifically Buffalo State College – check out their policy at http://www.buffalostate.edu/offices/hr/dvwp.asp. It is just one example of many but gets away from the idea that only a "corporation" would have such a policy (and believe me, I've been told that!)

I also have to give “props” to my friends at the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) in the State of New York. Amy Barasch (the Executive Director) has done an amazing job, and they are working with all state agencies in New York to get policies in place. For more on that, check http://www.opdv.state.ny.us/workplace/index.html.

Remember -- policies can be scalable and amenable to your workplace culture. But policies can also be put in a drawer and never used if they are not followed up with training and education and awareness programs within the workplace so managers and employees know what to do, who to talk to, and what resources are available.

For example, one of our CAEPV member companies places links for resources in several different locations on its employee intranet, so an employee in need of help related to domestic violence does not just go to the "Domestic Violence" spot to find it. They may find it in a Work/Life section, or a Workplace Safety section, or a Family Life section, or many other areas of the intranet. Not only does this provide information in easily accessible ways, it makes the issue one that shows up regularly so even employees who may not need the help (right now) see it.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

SAFEWORK 2010 ADDS 20TH LEADER TO ITS ROSTER!

CEO #20 has taken the pledge!! I am happy to report that Stanley Brezenoff, CEO of Continuum Health Partners, has just taken the SafeWork 2010 pledge! Continuum Health Partners is the parent company for Beth Israel Medical Center, St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals, Long Island College Hospital and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary – all major New York City hospitals. To view the growing list of CEOs who have signed the SafeWork 2010 Pledge, click here.

And what is the Pledge? It is very simple:

I am committed to addressing the issue of domestic violence in the workplace. I recognize that domestic violence impacts my employees, my company and my business. Therefore, I pledge to take action, lead change, and raise awareness as a member of SafeWork 2010.

CEOs sign the SafeWork 2010 Pledge, committing to address the impact of domestic violence in their workplace. To help them learn more about SafeWork 2010, they receive an awesome CEO Action Kit created by Safe Horizon and CAEPV provided by the generous support of The Allstate Foundation.

If you are interested in having your CEO sign the SafeWork 2010 Pledge, contact Joanna Colangelo at Safe Horizon at joanna.colangelo@safehorizon.org.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Television Star Ana Ortiz and The Allstate Foundation Encourage Americans to "Tell A Gal P.A.L." About Domestic Violence

Tell a gal P.A.L. Brought to you by The Allstate Foundation.

Here is something we can all do - donate a handbag or professional bag, get educated, and tell a friend! Our CAEPV members come up with great things their employees and the community can do to help!

To kick off National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, TV star Ana Ortiz is partnering with The Allstate Foundation to encourage Americans to “Tell a Gal P.A.L.” about domestic violence and donate a purse.

As part of the “Tell a P.A.L.” campaign, Ms. Ortiz whom by her own personal experience with domestic violence, will open up her heart and closet to raise awareness of domestic violence and financial abuse. From September 22 through October 3, Ms. Ortiz and The Allstate Foundation encourage people to donate nearly new purses or professional bags. The donated purses will be given to the non-profit Dress for Success organization to help domestic violence survivors, or other women in need, get back on their feet and enter or re-enter the workforce with confidence. Ms. Ortiz will also donate her Onna Ehrlich purse to one lucky winner for telling gal pals about domestic violence.

Purse donations will be accepted at select Allstate agency locations across the nation. A list of donation locations is available at http://www.clicktoempower.org/. By visiting the Web site, people can find information and resources on domestic violence, as well as enter for a chance to win an Onna Ehrlich purse from Ms. Ortiz’s personal collection. Bonus entries to win Ms. Ortiz’s purse will be awarded for those who “Tell a Gal P.A.L.” through online messages to family and friends.

The “Tell a Gal P.A.L.” program focuses on purses as they serve as symbol of economic empowerment for women. Research from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence shows that women with financial skills are more likely to leave abusive situations and sustain themselves and their families on a long-term basis.

Through its “Pass It On, Act and Learn,” the “Tell a Gal P.A.L.” campaign creates awareness and starts an open dialogue about domestic violence and how economic empowerment can provide a path to a safe future. “Pass it On, Act and Learn” consists of the following important steps:

Pass It On— Spread the word to your gal pals that domestic violence touches all of us and it can happen to anyone. Let your gal pals know that financial abuse is part of domestic abuse. Talk freely about domestic violence to break down the taboo.

Act— Small acts make a big difference. Encourage your gal pals to actively plan for a secure financial future. Start a savings plan for emergencies or get a copy of your credit report.

Learn—Learn about the resources available to help yourself, or someone you know, out of an abusive situation. Take steps to protect your personal and financial safety whether you’re in an abusive relationship or not, and empower yourself.

For additional information, visit www.econempowerment.org.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

September 19 Marks First National RESPECT! Day In US - Launches RESPECT! Campaign

This is another really cool partnership idea!

On Friday, September 19, CAEPV Member the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) and Macy's will ask the nation to join in marking the first annual National RESPECT! Day(SM).

A newly designated observance, National RESPECT! Day will launch a multi-year movement -- the RESPECT! Campaign(SM)-- designed to raise awareness of domestic and dating violence and to encourage positive discourse about prevention by teaching respect. CAEPV Member Blue Shield of California Foundation is a Workplace Training partner in this effort.

The launch, which will include employee rallies at more than 600 Macy's stores and on 135 college campuses nationwide, will invite the nation to join the movement by donning the official RESPECT! bracelet and getting out their cell phones to Text RESPECT!(SM).

The RESPECT! bracelet, available exclusively at Macy's and on macys.com, is available for $5 with half of the proceeds from the sale of each bracelet benefiting the RESPECT! Campaign.

Advocates can also demonstrate their support for the movement by texting the keyword "respect" to 41010 - for a goal of 10 million acts of respect for the 10 million children who witness violence in their homes each year1. By doing so, people will be mapped on GiveRespect.org which will be populated by the minute with respect acts across the country.

Participants can also choose to donate $5 via their mobile phones to support the FVPF, one of the nation's leading organizations working to prevent and end violence against women and children, and can invite a friend to join the movement as well.

The FVPF has teamed up with Macy's - which has a longtime commitment to ending abuse, but is now putting its consumer-friendly platforms to work on the issue. By doing so, the RESPECT! Campaign will have elevated exposure to educate and involve Americans on a larger scale.

As part of its continued work to end violence against women and children, Macy's will support the campaign in three primary ways in its first year:

• Serve as the exclusive retailer of the official RESPECT! bracelet, with half of the proceeds from the sale of each bracelet benefiting the RESPECT! Campaign.
• Include the Family Violence Prevention Fund in Macy's annual Shop for a Cause event on Saturday, September 20.
• Roll out a nationwide employee education/resource program this September to equip each of its stores to support employees that may be experiencing abuse in a relationship.

Funds raised from the RESPECT! CampaignSM will support education, awareness and training programs that prevent and end violence against women and children by building strong, healthy families and communities.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

More Than Just Lip Service

I LOVE this idea created by our CAEPV partners in the UK - The Body Shop International!

The Body Shop's new "For Me, For You" Shea Lip Care Duo offers more than just lip service.

The special edition, preservative-free moisturizing lip care sticks not only soften and condition lips, but are packaged to share and inform.

Recent research by The Body Shop shows that as many as 64% of women claim they would choose to confide in a friend rather than family or police if suffering from intimate partner violence.*

The lip duo, meant to be shared with a friend, is marked with the message "Break the Silence on Domestic Violence" in effort to encourage women to speak out about domestic violence. In addition to this message, The Body Shop now has leaflets available in stores and through The Body Shop at Home that provide advice about reaching out to a friend that may be suffering from domestic violence with tips on how to seek help. The "For Me, For You" duo is an extension of The Body Shop's "Stop Violence in the Home" campaign. Approximately $9 from the sale of each lip duo supports NCADV and its programs.

Additionally, the shea butter used in the lip care sticks provides trade and fair deal to more than 400 women from the Tungteiya co-operative in Ghana through The Body Shop Community Trade Program.

What a great idea -- share a lip care stick with a friend -- and share the message about domestic violence.

*Research carried out by IPSOS MORI and The Body Shop International (December 22nd, 2006-January 3rd, 2007) through an online survey of 11,000 women aged 16-35 in 11 countries including the US and Canada.

Friday, September 12, 2008

SAFEWORK 2010 ADDS RUDER FINN INC. TO ITS ROSTER

We are pleased to announce that Kathy Bloomgarden and Peter Finn, Co-CEOs of Ruder Finn, Inc. are the latest addition to SafeWork 2010. Ruder Finn is an international agency offering integrated public relations, marketing, and advertising services.

The growing SafeWork 2010 list includes:

Thomas J. Wilson, Allstate Insurance Company*
Louis C. Camilleri, Altria Group, Inc.*
Andrea Jung, Avon Products, Inc.*
Jens Bang, Cone, LLC
Ron Fierman, Digital Pulp
Mary Ann Scully, Howard Bank
Vic Broccolino, Howard County General Hospital
Andrea Wong, Lifetime Entertainment Services*
William McComb, Liz Claiborne Inc.*
Marcia Nagle, Longview Associates, LLC*
David B. Holl, Mary Kay Inc.*
Andrew R. Urban, Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo P.C.
Dr. Robert Pearl, The Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Permanente*
Emanuel Chirico, Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation
Kathy Bloomgarden and Peter Finn, Ruder Finn, Inc.
Steve Jacaruso, Le Sportsac
Neil L. Rubler, Vantage Properties, LLC
Lowell McAdam, Verizon Wireless*
Susan White, White + Warren

*CAEPV Member

All of the above CEOs have signed the SafeWork 2010 Pledge. And what is the Pledge? It is very simple:

I am committed to addressing the issue of domestic violence in the workplace. I recognize that domestic violence impacts my employees, my company and my business. Therefore, I pledge to take action, lead change, and raise awareness as a member of SafeWork 2010.

CEOs sign the SafeWork 2010 Pledge, committing to address the impact of domestic violence in their workplace. To help them learn more about SafeWork 2010, they receive an awesome CEO Action Kit created by Safe Horizon and CAEPV provided by the generous support of The Allstate Foundation.

If you are interested in having your CEO sign the SafeWork 2010 Pledge, contact Joanna Colangelo at Safe Horizon at joanna.colangelo@safehorizon.org.

Monday, September 08, 2008

SafeWork 2010 Adds Leaders To Its Roster!

We have some great new leaders that have added their names to membership in SafeWork 2010:

· Ron Fierman, President of Digital Pulp, an award-winning online advertising and web
development company
· Vic Broccolino, President of Howard County General Hospital, a member of Johns
Hopkins Medicine
· Susan White, President of White + Warren, a boutique cashmere clothing and accessories
company whose products are carried in over 500 stores nationwide

The growing SafeWork 2010 list includes:

Thomas J. Wilson, Allstate Insurance Company*
Louis C. Camilleri, Altria Group, Inc.*
Andrea Jung, Avon Products, Inc.*
Jens Bang, Cone, LLC
Ron Fierman, Digital Pulp
Mary Ann Scully, Howard Bank
Vic Broccolino, Howard County General Hospital
Andrea Wong, Lifetime Entertainment Services*
William McComb, Liz Claiborne Inc.*
Marcia Nagle, Longview Associates, LLC*
David B. Holl, Mary Kay Inc.*
Andrew R. Urban, Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo P.C.
Dr. Robert Pearl, The Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Permanente*
Emanuel Chirico, Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation
Steve Jacaruso, Le Sportsac
Neil L. Rubler, Vantage Properties, LLC
Lowell McAdam, Verizon Wireless*
Susan White, White + Warren

*CAEPV Member

All of the above CEOs have signed the SafeWork 2010 Pledge. And what is the Pledge? It is very simple:

I am committed to addressing the issue of domestic violence in the workplace. I recognize that domestic violence impacts my employees, my company and my business. Therefore, I pledge to take action, lead change, and raise awareness as a member of SafeWork 2010.

CEOs sign the SafeWork 2010 Pledge, committing to address the impact of domestic violence in their workplace. To help them learn more about SafeWork 2010, they receive an awesome CEO Action Kit created by Safe Horizon and CAEPV provided by the generous support of The Allstate Foundation.

If you are interested in having your CEO sign the SafeWork 2010 Pledge, contact Joanna Colangelo at Safe Horizon at joanna.colangelo@safehorizon.org.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Violently Ill - HR Executive Online Features Domestic Violence As A Workplace Issue

HR Executive Online has done a great article with accompanying information and resources on the impact of domestic violence on the workplace. I spent a lot of time talking with Jared Shelly, the journalist who wrote the piece and coordinated the “extras” and he worked very hard to make sure he had something that would really help their readers understand how domestic violence impacts the workplace, what companies are currently doing about it, and what interest HR Executives can do about it.

He chose an interesting title for his piece, “Violently Ill.” At first I was taken aback by the title. But as I thought about it, it made sense. Jared wanted his readers to understand that for victims of domestic violence, their work absences due to domestic violence can be because of the violent nature of the situation they are in at home.

Featured in the article are CAEPV Members State Farm Insurance Companies, Verizon Wireless, Blue Shield of California Foundation, and CIGNA (which not only provides EAP services for Verizon Wireless, but also has its own program).

While Macy’s is not a Corporate Alliance member, we are very happy to have member of Macy’s Employee Relations area on our board of directors.

Finally, I honor the State Farm employee who chose to share her story with Jared. She is amazing – and as she shares, she helps more employers and employees know that they are not alone and that this issue is “Everybody’s Business.”

Thanks to HR Exec Online for highlighting domestic violence as a workplace issue, thanks to Jared Shelly for working so hard to make sure he got the story and the resources out there, and thanks to the employers who are willing to do something about this and share their experiences with others!