The Inclusive Excellence Podcast: Breaking the Silence: How to Support Colleagues Experiencing Domestic Violence

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this episode of the Inclusive Excellence Podcast features Erin Sember-Chase and Toral Patel in conversation with Michelle Artibee (she/her), director of workforce wellbeing at Cornell, and Lyn Staack (she/they), director of education at the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County. Together, they discuss the critical resources available for employees experiencing domestic violence (DV), consider various factors that impact assistance options and access and explore ways managers and colleagues can appropriately provide support.

Cornell and the Advocacy Center have a longstanding history of collaboration, partnering on initiatives such as resource fairs, workshops and training sessions designed to educate the campus community. In 2016, this partnership deepened when Cornell Law Professor and founder of the Gender Justice Law Clinic, Elizabeth Brundige, shared with HR best practices for employers. Around this time, Staack presented on domestic violence and sexual assault to Artibee's daughter's high school health class. Witnessing the impact of the presentation on her employed and college-bound teen, Artibee was compelled to examine this issue more closely with the goal of better supporting survivors and reducing stigma.

Artibee gathered a team of representatives from human resources, Cornell Police, Cornell Law School, the Victim Advocacy Program and the Advocacy Center. Together, they reviewed Cornell's approach to supporting survivors - "We really sought to understand both the prevalence and how prepared our managers and HR representatives felt to respond to these situations, and we found that very few felt prepared," Artibee explained.

"We then took a deeper dive into the experiences of our employees who were also survivors of domestic violence. It became clear that we had a lot of great support and tools at Cornell, but it can be incredibly overwhelming for an employee experiencing DV to navigate all of them," Artibee continued.

Considering these findings, Staack and Artibee discuss the range of programs and resources available to individuals of all identities and backgrounds who are experiencing domestic violence. They also explore tools designed to help managers provide effective support to staff who may be navigating these challenges in the workplace.

"There are often many layers," Staack said. "It's important to take a survivor-centered approach because we know that the same approach does not increase safety and well-being for everyone. Our role as a support person is not to center our agenda or what we think the solution is going to be, but to center the person we're supporting and listen to their concerns, needs and choices."

Statistics show that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience severe physical domestic violence during their lifetime. This figure is even higher when factoring in other common control tactics, such as verbal abuse, threats, isolation and financial control. Studies of historically marginalized and underrepresented communities (including transgender individuals, people with disabilities and people of color), commonly report higher prevalence rates. Cornell, like other institutions, is not immune to these challenges.

"It's critical that the institution prioritizes being an inclusive environment - one that calls out issues, shines a light on the prevalence and helps people understand that domestic violence happens at all socioeconomic and education levels," Artibee said. "There's a long list of reasons an individual is going to feel isolated in coping with what they're experiencing. But the more we reduce those barriers and the stigma, the better. One of the best things we can do is be proactive."

One way Cornell has demonstrated this commitment is through providing valuable resources for employees and managers. Artibee and Staack highlight Cornell's Guide to Domestic Violence at the Workplace, a resource designed to help managers navigate difficult workplace situations, offering guidance and support for meaningful conversations and appropriate actions.

"Conversations like these can feel overwhelming or hopeless at times," Staack said. "But there is hope, and we can start by creating safer, more equitable and caring workplaces and communities. We are moving toward a more holistic and survivor-centered approach, and I see these efforts as positive. If you or someone you know is living with domestic violence, I want to hold out that hope and encourage you to reach out."

For more information on navigating domestic violence in the workplace, tune in to Episode 86: Breaking the Silence: How to Support Colleagues Experiencing Domestic Violence.

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