Domestic Abuse and the Workplace: The Hidden Economic Impact

17 Feb

Domestic abuse doesn’t just happen behind closed doors. For many survivors, the effects spill over into their professional lives, impacting their ability to work, earn, and progress in their careers. A new study published in 2024 in The Quarterly Journal of Economics provides compelling evidence of how economic abuse and financial dependence play a central role in abusive relationships, reinforcing the need for workplace policies and employer awareness to support those affected.

How Domestic Abuse Impacts Employment and Careers

Researchers found that women who enter relationships with physically abusive partners experience an immediate and significant decline in employment and earnings upon cohabitation. The data, drawn from administrative records, showed that:

Employment rates of victims dropped by 6.7 percentage points within the first year of cohabitation with an abusive partner.
Earnings fell by an average of €1,600 per year in the five years after cohabitation—a 12% reduction compared to their pre-abuse earnings.
This economic suppression isn’t limited to those experiencing physical abuse— women in abusive relationships that did not include physical violence also saw significant career setbacks.

These findings underscore what many survivors already know: domestic abuse often involves economic abuse. Economic dependence is a deliberate strategy used by abusers to trap victims in harmful relationships by limiting their ability to earn, progress, or leave.

Why This Matters for Employers

The workplace is often a lifeline for domestic abuse survivors, providing financial independence, a sense of purpose, and a support network. But when abuse follows victims into the workplace, the consequences can be severe:

Harassment at Work: Abusers may stalk, call, or show up at the workplace to intimidate their partner.
Job Loss and Absenteeism: Victims often struggle with missed workdays due to injuries, emotional distress, or manipulation by their abuser.
Career Disruption: Survivors may be forced to leave jobs, accept lower-paying positions, or abandon career progression altogether.

Without proper workplace support, many survivors are left with limited career options and financial insecurity, making it harder to escape abuse.

What Employers Can Do to Support Survivors

Businesses have a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to support employees facing domestic abuse. Here’s how employers can make a difference:

1. Implement a Domestic Abuse Workplace Policy

Having a clear, confidential policy ensures that victims know where to turn for support. Policies should include:

✅ Paid leave for domestic abuse survivors
✅ Flexible working arrangements
✅ Clear reporting and safeguarding processes

2. Provide Financial and Career Support

Employers can help survivors regain financial independence through:

🔹 Salary advances or emergency financial assistance
🔹 Career development programs tailored to survivors
🔹 Support with retraining or finding flexible roles

3. Train Managers to Recognise the Signs

Domestic abuse isn’t always visible. Providing manager training on recognising abuse and supporting affected employees can make a real difference.

4. Foster a Culture of Safety and Support

A supportive workplace culture—where employees feel safe to disclose abuse without fear of stigma or job loss—can be life-changing.

Choices: Helping Survivors Rebuild Careers

At Choices, we provide trauma-informed career development support for survivors of domestic abuse, helping them regain financial independence and rebuild their careers. Our work ensures that survivors receive the practical tools, confidence, and career pathways needed to break free from financial control.

Empower Your Workplace with Domestic Abuse Awareness Training

Workplaces play a crucial role in breaking the cycle of abuse. That’s why Choices offers online training in domestic abuse awareness, equipping employers, HR professionals, and managers with the skills to recognise, respond, and support employees affected by domestic abuse.

You can also refer your employees to Flying High, our unique coaching programme designed for domestic abuse survivors, helping them rebuild confidence and maintain meaningful employment.

Take Action Today

📢 Want to create a more supportive workplace?
✅ Book our online training in domestic abuse awareness
✅ Learn more about Flying High and how we support survivors

#WorkplaceSupport #DomesticAbuseSupport #CareerIndependence #SupportSurvivors #Trauma-InformedCoaching #DAAwareness #FlyingHigh