FERNWOOD FITNESS - PULSE eMagazine - Issue#10 - Flipbook - Page 49
If someone chooses to open up about their situation,
you can offer help in the following ways:
> NON-JUDGMENTAL LISTENING
> SAFETY MEASURES
Listen without judgment, believing what they
share and refraining from blaming them for
their circumstances.
Explore poten琀椀al safety measures that can
be implemented in the workplace if the
employee feels unsafe. This may include
screening incoming calls, blocking emails,
changing phone numbers, or adjus琀椀ng
working hours or loca琀椀ons.
> FOCUS ON SAFETY
Avoid delving into the details of domes琀椀c
and family violence; instead, concentrate on
assis琀椀ng them in being safe and referring
them to appropriate services. Nobody
understands their safety be琀琀er than the vic琀椀m
so listen and respect their decisions and be
guided by what they need to keep them safe.
This is par琀椀cularly relevant regarding their
decision to leave their partner. Know what
resources are available and provide op琀椀ons,
but always respect their choices and decisions.
Vic琀椀ms assess the trustworthiness of those
they con昀椀de in and may react nega琀椀vely to
signs of judgment. It's important to trust that
they know their situa琀椀on best.
> RESPECT THEIR CHOICES
Refrain from insis琀椀ng that they leave their
rela琀椀onship or cri琀椀cising them for staying.
> INFORM ABOUT WORKPLACE
SUPPORT
Discuss their domes琀椀c and family violence
workplace en琀椀tlements and available op琀椀ons,
such as taking leave (if domes琀椀c and family
violence leave is available) or accessing 昀氀exible
work arrangements.
> PROVIDE CONTACTS
O昀昀er the employee contact informa琀椀on
within your organisa琀椀on and inform them
of external support resources (see external
support details below).
> CONFIDENTIALITY
Take steps to ensure that all disclosures and
ac琀椀ons remain con昀椀den琀椀al unless there is
a legal or safety requirement for sharing
informa琀椀on. Always consult with the employee
regarding the informa琀椀on that can be shared
and with whom. Certain minimum informa琀椀on
may need to be shared with others to
implement safety measures.
