Women's employment and domestic violence: A review of the literature

A steady and accessible financial outlet is central to living an abuse free life for women who experience domestic violence. In this systematic review of the literature, the relationship between domestic violence and employment instability as a result of workplace disruptions used by abusive men to sabotage their partner's employment efforts is explored. A total of 20 quantitative studies of adult women were selected that measured employment and domestic violence. A quarter of the studies included measured mental health problems, revealing correlations and mediation effects between domestic violence and employment stability. Every study selected found workplace disruptions among women experiencing domestic violence. On-the-job harassment was found in four of the studies reviewed with two studies finding corresponding decline in productivity and performance. Losing paid work time is also a serious cause of employment instability as workplace time reductions workplace time reductions were found in approximately half of the studies reviewed. Job loss or unemployment as a result of domestic violence was found in seven of the studies reviewed. To prevent employment instability, employers can restructure policy and procedures of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and policymakers can further support and expand Family Violence Options for welfare-recipients experiencing domestic violence.