Recognize IPV Signs and Symptoms at the Workplace

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) can be more than just physical abuse. It can include emotional, mental, and financial abuse, among other forms—so knowing the signs and symptoms of IPV is crucial because not all symptoms will show up as injuries. In October, IPV Awareness Month, surgeons can learn how to recognize IPV in colleagues and patients with ACS resources.

Watch the following video from Workplaces Respond, a public-private partnership led by Futures Without Violence and funded by the US Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, to learn how IPV can impact your colleagues in the workplace and what you can do to help.

Learning what to look for at the workplace and how to approach someone in this situation can make an impact on the survivor or victim. Create a safe environment for your co-workers that may be experiencing or have experienced trauma is critical.

Take the following actions and develop your response to recognizing IPV:

• Explore the common signs of abusive behavior and types of abuse.
• Learn how the signs and symptoms may show up at the workplace.
• Understand employee rights in your state
• Read about the impact of Protection Orders on workplaces

For resources and more information on IPV, visit the ACS IPV Resource webpage. If you are experiencing Intimate Partner Violence or know someone who is, consider using these resources for support:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline – Support is available 24/7. Call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-799-7233 for TTY. If you cannot speak safely, log onto org or text LOVEIS to 22522.
• An interactive guide to safety planning
• The National Sexual Assault Hotline, 24/7, confidential and free, 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or via chat
• National Parent Helpline, Monday through Friday, 12:00–7:00 pm Central, 1-855-427-2736
• Workplaces Respond – Resources on employees’ rights and how to create a safe environment at the workplace