If you are dealing with domestic violence or intimate partner violence, work may feel like one more place where you have to hide, explain, or keep going when you are already exhausted. A workplace toolkit like “It’s Your Business: Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Workplace Toolkit” can matter because it gives employers, managers, and coworkers practical guidance on how to respond with care, privacy, and safety.

This resource appears on the ToolkitNB helpful links page, but the published date is not listed. That means we should treat it as a support resource rather than a news alert about a specific incident. Even so, its presence is important: it signals that workplaces are being encouraged to recognize domestic and intimate partner violence as a real safety and health issue, not a private problem someone must handle alone.

For many people, abuse affects work in very real ways:

• missed shifts because of injuries, fear, stalking, or court dates
• trouble concentrating because of stress, sleep loss, or trauma
• controlling partners interfering with transportation, phone access, or childcare
• harassment at work, including unwanted calls, texts, or showing up in person
• fear of losing a job if you disclose what is happening

A workplace toolkit can help reduce harm by giving employers a framework for:

• recognizing warning signs without blaming the person
• responding privately and respectfully
• making safety plans around schedules, entrances, parking, and communication
• connecting workers to local supports
• understanding that abuse can affect attendance, performance, and emotional well-being

For someone seeking help, this can mean the difference between being punished for surviving and being supported through it.

This kind of resource may help:

• employees experiencing domestic violence, intimate partner violence, coercive control, stalking, or harassment
• coworkers who want to support someone safely
• supervisors and HR staff who need a trauma-informed response
• people who are worried about confidentiality at work
• survivors who need documentation, leave, schedule changes, or workplace safety planning

It may also matter for people who are not ready to disclose everything. You do not have to share more than you want to in order to ask for help.

Although the exact contents of this toolkit may vary, workplace domestic violence resources commonly include:

• sample workplace policies
• guidance for confidential conversations
• steps for safety planning at work
• advice on responding to threats, stalking, or harassment
• referral information for local domestic violence services
• suggestions for training staff and managers
• information about legal rights, leave, and accommodations where applicable

If your workplace uses a toolkit like this well, it should feel supportive, not invasive. The goal is to increase safety and reduce barriers, not to pressure you into telling your story.

If you are in a stressful or unsafe situation, you may want to start with the smallest possible step.

You can keep it simple. For example:

• “I am dealing with a safety issue at home and may need flexibility.”
• “I need to discuss a confidential workplace safety concern.”
• “I am not ready to share details, but I need support with scheduling.”

You do not need to prove abuse to deserve care.

If possible, identify someone who is likely to be calm, discreet, and respectful:

• a supervisor you trust
• HR or an employee assistance contact
• a union representative
• a workplace safety officer

If you are unsure who is safe, consider asking about confidentiality before sharing details.

Concrete requests can be easier than explaining everything. You might ask for:

• a change in shift or location
• a private entrance or parking arrangement
• screening of calls or visitors
• flexibility for appointments, court, or shelter needs
• permission to keep your contact information private
• help documenting threatening incidents at work

If you are being harassed, stalked, or threatened, keep records when you can:

• screenshots of messages
• call logs
• dates, times, and descriptions of incidents
• names of witnesses
• copies of emails or voicemails

Only do this if it will not increase your risk.

A simple plan can include:

• who to contact if the person shows up
• where to go if you feel unsafe
• a code word with a trusted coworker
• how to leave the building safely
• whether security should be alerted

A local advocate can help you think through work-related safety, legal options, and next steps. They can often help you plan without forcing decisions.

• If your device is monitored, use a safer phone or computer if possible.
• Clear browser history only if that is safe for you.
• Be careful with shared calendars, location sharing, and workplace messaging apps.
• If the abusive person has access to your work email or phone, assume they may see messages.
• If you are in immediate danger, call emergency services now.

If you cannot safely call, consider texting a trusted person, using a shelter hotline chat, or asking a coworker to help you contact support.

If you are in the United States or Canada, you can start with a local domestic violence hotline or shelter. If you are elsewhere, look for a national domestic violence helpline, women’s shelter, or victim services organization in your area.

You may also be able to get help from:

• workplace HR or employee assistance programs
• legal aid services
• victim advocates at courts or police services
• community health centers
• union representatives
• domestic violence agencies that offer safety planning and advocacy

If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services right away.

The ToolkitNB page lists the resource but does not provide a published date in the information available here. Because of that, it is not possible to confirm whether the toolkit is newly updated or simply newly listed on the page.

Even with that uncertainty, the resource is still meaningful. A workplace toolkit focused on domestic and intimate partner violence can help normalize support, reduce stigma, and give survivors more options for staying safe while keeping their jobs.

If this topic is bringing up fear, shame, or overwhelm, you are not alone. Abuse can make everyday tasks feel impossible, and asking for help can be hard. You deserve support that is private, respectful, and paced according to your safety.

If you want, you can start with one sentence, one trusted person, or one hotline call. Small steps count.

If you are in immediate danger, call emergency services now.

If you would like, I can also help you turn this into a shorter workplace explainer, a survivor-facing FAQ, or a local resource page for your region.