The Impacts of Partner Stalking on a Woman's Career
By Katelynn Shimanski
Data from the National Violence Against Women study (2000) estimates that annually, 1.4 million women are subjected to intimate partner violence. Even so, many companies have not recognized that domestic violence is not just an issue at home, and can have huge repercussions in the workplace. Sometimes violent partners resort to workplace stalking which can result in victims experiencing more time taken off, and reduced concentration and productivity while at work (Swanberg, Macke, & Logan, 2007). Partner stalking occurs often at workplaces, as when women leave past partners and the homes they shared with them, they rarely change their place of employment. This leaves them vulnerable to past or current partners that are aware of their routines and where to find them. Studies have shown that, on average, 35% of employed or recently employed victims of partner violence had been stalked by their partner within the past year (Swanberg, Macke, & Logan, 2007).
Research by the United States Bureau of Justice shows that one in eight victims lost time from work due to safety concerns or needing to take care of other concerns relating to the stalking such as moving (Baum, Catalano, Rand, & Rose, 2009). Additionally, women reported that stalking prevented them from advancing in the workplace or being able to take new jobs because of safety concerns (Swanberg, Macke, & Logan, 2007). Workplace stalking can also cause problems between victims and other employees or their employers, as the intrusion can cause increased stress and distraction that may result in workplace tension. In some cases, stalkers risked the victim’s jobs by stealing or damaging work property. Research has also found that the stalker may use the victim’s coworkers to spread false information to further harass the victim (Swanberg, Macke, & Logan, 2007).
If you or someone you know are a victim of partner stalking or violence, you may have questions about if this information should be disclosed to employers. Results showed that women were more likely to remain employed when they disclosed their situation to someone at work. This disclosure allowed women to receive workplace support such as schedule flexibility, assistance with developing security plans, and screened phone calls to prevent unwanted calls from current or past partners. In an analysis of why partner stalking ended, victims reported that the most common reasons why stalking ended were the police warning the stalker, the victim warned the stalker, a friend or family member intervened, or by getting a restraining order (Swanberg, Macke, & Logan, 2007).
The most important thing to remember about domestic violence and stalking is that they are crimes. Federal law mandates that you are able to file a free restraining order. If you are in immediate danger, contact 911. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises that other actions you can take include keeping evidence of crimes, taking notes of specific incidences, and reaching out to family and friends for help (Organization on Women’s Health, 2018). For additional assistance, the National Center for Victims of Crime can be reached at 1-800-394-2255.
References
Baum, K., Catalano, S., Rand, M., & Rose, K. (2009). Stalking victimization in the United States (Report No. NCJ 224527). Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2012/08/15/bjs-stalking-rpt.pdf
National Violence Against Women Study Findings. (2000). https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/183781.pdf
Organization on Women’s Health. (2018). Stalking. Retrieved April 18, 2020 from https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/other-types/stalking
Swanberg, J., Macke, C., & Logan, T. K. (2007). Working women making it work: Intimate partner violence, employment, and workplace support. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 22(3), 292-311. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.mnsu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.mnsu.edu/docview/69020040?accountid=12259