Chamber event highlights how domestic violence impacts the workplace

Feb 5

(6-7 minute read)

About the Lunch & Learn

A Lunch & Learn program focused on Domestic Violence in the Workplace brought employers, HR professionals, and community members together on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Presence&Co on Main Street. The session, organized by the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce, focused on education, awareness, and practical workplace responses to domestic violence.

The event highlighted how domestic violence affects not only individuals and families, but also workplaces - impacting safety, productivity, retention, and employee well-being. Panelists combined professional expertise with lived experience to help attendees better recognize warning signs and respond with compassion and informed support.

Four panelists shared perspectives from survivor advocacy, human resources, and personal experience:

Loverne, Live Life Now Foundation, and a domestic abuse survivor
Gena, a domestic abuse survivor
Julie, a senior Human Resources (HR) professional
Rachel, RESPOND

Lunch was supported by donations from Harrow’s Chicken Pot Pies, Pizza World, Del Sur Empanada, and Cupcake City, and hosted by Presence&Co.

Speakers emphasized a key statistic that framed the discussion: 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men will experience an abusive relationship in their lifetime.

Understanding domestic violence as a pattern of power and control

Panelists stressed that domestic violence is not limited to physical assault. It is a pattern of behavior that develops over time, rooted in power imbalance and control.

Rachel explained that while physical abuse is often the most visible and dangerous form, abuse can also include:

Financial control
Emotional and verbal abuse
Isolation from friends and family
Immigration or childcare threats
Monitoring and coercive control

She encouraged attendees to shift the common question from “Why didn’t she leave?” to “Why aren’t we talking about this more?” - emphasizing that education and open discussion are prevention tools.

Workplace impact and employer responsibility

Julie outlined how domestic violence frequently follows victims into the workplace and carries measurable organizational costs.

Impacts include:

Increased absenteeism
Reduced productivity
Higher employee turnover
Hiring and retraining expenses
Healthcare utilization

Julie cited estimates that domestic violence costs employers approximately $8.3 billion annually. She also noted that roughly 35% of female emergency room visits are related to domestic violence, exceeding the combined total for muggings and sexual assaults.

From an HR standpoint, Julie emphasized:

Respond with compassion and care when an employee discloses abuse
Avoid rigid or punitive reactions
Treat safety planning similarly to ADA-style accommodations
Let the employee guide what adjustments are safest
Train coworkers and supervisors to recognize warning signs
Don’t try to be the expert - connect with trained resources

Julie noted that failing to coordinate with the workplace can sometimes increase risk. For example, if an abuser expects a predictable desk location or schedule.

A survivor’s story: control, escalation, and recovery

Gena shared a deeply personal account of her abusive relationship and how it affected every aspect of her life - including her employment.

Gena described how the relationship began with “love bombing” and an apparent sense of stability. During COVID lockdowns, after moving in together, the dynamic shifted towards control and intimidation, including:

Verbal abuse
Property violence (punching walls)
Spitting
Coercive behavior
Isolation from friends and family

After a violent escalation in July 2021 involving strangulation, hostage-like confinement, and threats with a firearm, she was able to de-escalate, escape, and report the incident. Despite Gena’s fears related to the abuser’s claimed law enforcement ties, authorities believed her and filed charges.

She described a two-year legal process and sharply different experiences with two employers:

One employer provided flexibility and support for recovery and court dates
Another offered minimal understanding or accommodation

Gena reflected that a simple check-in from a coworker might have opened the door to accepting help sooner.

Breaking the cycle and recognizing warning signs

Lovern spoke about surviving domestic violence both as a child and as an adult, and how normalization of abuse in childhood environments can shape later vulnerability.

Lovern described a similar pattern to Gena’s story:

Idealized early relationship
Age and power imbalance
Gradual escalation of control
Abuse tied to workplace attendance and independence
Apologies followed by repeated violence

After a life-threatening knife incident, Lovern recognized she needed to leave. She later experienced stalking and described the emotional difficulty - and stigma - she felt when filing a restraining order, which ultimately protected her.

Notably, Lovern did not disclose this to her employer at the time and used sick leave for court appearances. Years later, when she disclosed the past abuses, leadership expressed support - though she questioned whether that support culture existed at the time.

Lovern’s key message: learn the warning signs and cues. These may include:

Sudden drop in productivity
Frequent unexplained absences
Repeated sick days
Emotional distress or tearfulness
Changes in communication patterns
Returning from breaks visibly upset or disheveled
Lowered voice or secrecy on phone calls

Lovern urged employers and coworkers alike to pursue training and awareness to recognize red flags early.

Education as prevention

Throughout the program, panelists reinforced that domestic violence is not just a private matter - it is a community and workplace issue. Education, training, and supportive policies can reduce harm and even save lives.

Resources shared included employer training programs and advocacy organizations, such as Employers Against Domestic Violence and RESPOND, which work directly with survivors and workplaces.

The central takeaways for attendees: understanding, preparation, and compassionate response can make workplaces safer - and can change outcomes for people experiencing abuse.