What is in it for Employers?

Whether you are a human resource professional or a business executive, it is likely you have witnessed how domestic violence and sexual assault impacts the workplace. By participating in the See the Signs & Speak Out training programs, you can invest in your workforce, connect with local experts, and make a difference in your workplace and community.

Invest in Your Workplace

Our free workplace training program can help to:

• Reduce absenteeism: Victims of rape/sexual assault often miss extensive workdays because of the trauma, with one study finding that over a third lost more than 10 days¹.
• Increase safety: Another study found that two in five victims of domestic violence were afraid of their intimate partner’s unexpectedly calling or visiting their workplace².
• Reduce risk: According to a 2004 study of domestic violence perpetrators, 78% used workplace resources at least once to express remorse/anger, pressure, or threatened the victim³.

¹ Duhard, D. (2001). Violence in the Workplace, 1993-99. Bureau of Justice Statistics
² CAEPV National Benchmark Telephone Survey. 2005. Bloomington, IL; Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence.
³ Kim C. Lim et al., Maine Department of Labor and Family Crisis Services, Impact of Domestic Violence Offenders on Occupational Safety & Health: A Pilot Study (2004).

Connect with Experts

See the Signs & Speak Out training encourages employers to reach out to local domestic violence agencies and rape crisis centers to leverage the expertise of experts in the field and to become familiar with community referrals for victims and perpetrators.

Make a Difference

Workplaces can help break the silence that surrounds domestic violence and sexual assault. An employer’s leadership on this issue also sends the message to employees that domestic and sexual violence will not be tolerated and that victims will be supported. Employees learn skills that can help them make a difference in their families and communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does the training costs? There is no cost to you for the training.
• Our company uses its own Learning Management Systems (LMS). Can we upload the See the Signs & Speak Out training materials directly into our LMS? Yes, you can download the videos and upload them to your own LMS.
• Who can I contact with further questions? Please contact [email protected] for more information regarding the See the Signs training.
• Who is behind the See the Signs & Speak Out program? The program was created with funding from Avon Foundation. The Ohio Domestic Violence Network and the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence collaborated with a group of subject matter experts and an advisory committee made up of business leaders to create the program. 

Getting Started

Download the Employer Quick Start Guide (PDF).

What is See the Signs, Speak Out?
See the Signs, Speak Out is a program to provide free domestic violence and sexual assault trainings to the workplaces. The online-based program helps employers start conversations about domestic violence and sexual assault that can make a difference in the workplace, in their homes, and in their communities. The program includes brief vignettes, online courses, and onsite training materials.

Training Resources Available
Video Vignettes (available in English and Spanish)
These brief (2-3 minute) videos model safe bystander intervention in the workplace. The videos address topics such as: how to talk to an employee who may be a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, how to address an employee perpetrator of domestic or sexual violence, how to intervene safely as a bystander to prevent sexual assault, and how to reach out to a colleague who may be a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault.

Some ideas for using the video vignette training materials include: showing a video vignette at the next staff meeting, using the videos as part of domestic violence or sexual assault awareness month, or asking staff to view the videos.

Online Training Modules (available in English and Spanish)
Online courses are available on domestic violence, sexual assault, and how to intervene safely as a bystander. These courses are 20-40 minutes long. Registration is free and is required in order to access the advanced features, which include the ability to track your progress, access quizzes, and print a certification of completion.

Some ideas for using the online courses include: having all supervisors complete the courses, encourage all human resources staff to complete the courses, or require new staff members to complete the online training modules as part of new staff orientation.

Onsite Bystander Intervention Training (available in English and Spanish)
Two one-and-a-half-hour PowerPoint training courses are available for onsite workshops. Both courses instruct hot to safely intervene as a bystander. One course focuses on domestic violence and the other focuses on sexual violence. The courses include video vignettes and interactive exercises. A facilitator guide is available with a complete facilitator script.

Some ideas for using these PowerPoint training courses include: invite a local expert from the nearest domestic violence center on rape crisis center to facilitate the training, conduct training as part of domestic violence or sexual assault awareness month, or have a human resources staff member facilitate the training as part of an existing wellness campaign.

Tips for Getting Started: Small Employers
1. Familiarize yourself with the domestic violence and sexual assault resources in your community.
Options: Locate the nearest domestic violence agency or rape crisis center in order to connect with experts who can assist with workplace trainings and to become informed about services available for victims. Customized the enclosed template (Word document) to provide employees information about domestic violence or sexual assault victims’ resources in the community and in the workplace.

2. Train key staff members.
Options: Contact your local domestic violence or sexual assault agency to conduct workplace training during lunchtime or as part of in-service training. See below about facilitating an in-person training. Ask staff who handle human resource matters to view the See the Signs employer vignettes. Consider adding an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to your employee benefits package. The Futures Without Violence website, Workplaces Respond, explains some of the benefits to your company as well as to individuals who may be impacted by domestic violence or sexual assault.

Tips for Getting Started: Medium to Large Employers
1. Consider conducting a workplace safety assessment.
Option: Futures Without Violence’s website, Workplaces Respond, offers extensive information on how to conduct a workplace safety assessment.

2. Find ways to incorporate See the Signs materials and resources within existing policies or wellness programs.
Options: Do you have a workplace policy that addresses domestic violence and sexual assault? (It may be addressed within sexual harassment, anti-discrimination, workplace violence, safety policy). If yes, a simple approach is to incorporate language that states your company will provide information and resources related to domestic violence/sexual assault. Also, consider adopting an anti-violence policy that addresses domestic violence and sexual assault. Check out Workplaces Respond’s policy generator tool for resources on creating a policy. Incorporate domestic violence and sexual assault bystander training within an existing wellness program. Does your company work with a healthcare broker that has a wellness program? Consider approaching them about ways that they could utilize See The Signs materials.

3. Organize training.
Option: Utilize See the Signs training for supervisors. Consider showing a video vignette at a management meeting.

Templates and Other Resources

• Download a sample victims’ resources template. (Word document)
• Download a “See the Signs” fact sheet.
• Contact us to obtain video files to upload to your LMS.

Download the entire Quick Start Guide.

What is See the Signs & Speak Out?

See the Signs & Speak Out is a free, online-based training program that instructs employers and employees how to intervene safely as bystanders to prevent domestic and sexual violence, whether it occurs in the workplace or the community. Trainings model how to talk to friends or colleagues who may be a victim of domestic or sexual violence, how managers can talk to employees who may be perpetrating domestic or sexual violence, and how individuals can safely intervene as bystanders to prevent domestic and sexual violence before it happens. The project was created through a collaboration between the Ohio Domestic Violence Network and Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence and was generously funded by the Avon Foundation for Women.

Training Materials Available include:

Video Vignettes (available in English and Spanish)
These brief (2-3 minute) videos model safe bystander intervention in the workplace. The videos address topics such as: how to talk to an employee who may be a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, how to address an employee perpetrator of domestic or sexual violence, how to intervene safely as a bystander to prevent sexual assault, and how to reach out to a colleague who may be a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault.

Online Training Modules (available in English and Spanish)
Online courses are available on domestic violence, sexual assault, and how to intervene safely as a bystander. These courses are 20-40 minutes long. Registration is free and is required in order to access the advanced features, which include the ability to track your progress, access quizzes, and print a certification of completion.

Onsite Bystander Intervention Training (available in English and Spanish)
Two one-and-a-half-hour PowerPoint training courses are available for onsite workshops. Both courses instruct how to safely intervene as a bystander. One course focuses on domestic violence and the other focuses on sexual violence. The courses include video vignettes and interactive exercises. A facilitator guide is available with a complete facilitator script.

Workplace Resources

Employers have access to their own Quick Start Guide as well as other resources.

The Role of Local Programs

While the See the Signs training workshops are designed to be facilitated by anyone and do not require a background in domestic violence or sexual assault issues, the hope is that prevention experts will leverage the tools to share their expertise and build relationships with employers in their community. The getting started guide is designed to make it as easy as possible for organizations to reach out to local employers, with free materials including a sample letter to employers and talking points.

Why Use See the Signs & Speak Out Training Materials

Here are just a few of the benefits of the See the Signs free training materials:

• Build relationships with community employers. Connect with employers in your community. Workplace trainings are an organizational asset that can help you forge long-term relationships with businesses, which can result in increased awareness, survivor support, and investment in critical programs and services.
• Connect survivors to resources and support. Trainings are survivor-centered and survivor’s voices have been included throughout the program. See the Signs also encourages employers to identify and share relevant internal and external resources available for victims, including referrals to community domestic violence and rape crisis agencies.
• Help shift workplace culture. See the Signs training courses focus on culture change rather than policy change. The program encourages workplaces to break the silence surrounding domestic and sexual assault and to start conversations in the workplace. Training materials model how to talk to employees or colleagues who may be a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, how to talk to an employee who is perpetrating domestic violence or sexual assault, and how to safely intervene as a bystander to prevent domestic violence and sexual assault from occurring.

Planning a Training

1. Compile a list of local employers—Think about which employers you would like to build relationships with and start by gathering those contacts. You can consult the yellow pages or a local chamber of commerce to find business directories.
   Consider reaching out to your agency’s board of directors for community contacts.
2. Contact Employers to Schedule a Training—Send a letter or email to contacts at local companies. (See the sample letter for ideas.)
3. Follow up with Employers—Within two weeks of mailing or emailing your contacts, call them directly and ask if they are interested in hosting a training. See the talking points for suggestions on what to say.
4. Host the Training—Facilitation materials can be downloaded here.
5. Complete the See the Signs Training Survey—After the training, please complete a brief survey about your use of the training tools. We appreciate your feedback so that we can continue to improve the trainings and understand how the tools are being used.
6. Send a Thank You Letter to the Employer

Print or save the To-Do list.

10 Ways to Use See the Signs & Speak Out Training

1. Incorporate workplace trainings into your agency’s domestic violence or sexual assault awareness month activities.
2. Contact local business associations to host a video vignette viewing and discussion at their next membership meeting.
3. Contact the nearest human resources association chapter in your community to share information about the free trainings and offer to show a video at an upcoming meeting or event.
4. Incorporate the training materials into any employee orientation trainings you currently conduct in the community.
5. Send a letter to the editor (see sample) encouraging local businesses to host a training.
6. Challenge your board members to take the online training.
7. Show a video vignette as part of your volunteer orientations and trainings.
8. Share information about the free trainings at your next community coalition event or meeting.
9. Add training information to your organization’s website.
10. Post one of the video vignettes on social media and share information about how employers can contact your organization to schedule a training.

Other Materials

• Download the Talking Points.
• Download a Sample Letter to Employers.
• Download a Sample Letter to the Editor.

The online training modules are availble on domestic violence, sexual assualt and how to intervene safely as a bystander. These modules can be found on ODVN’s online training portal. The courses are available in English and Spanish. Each modules is 20-40 minutes long. Registration for the online portal is free and required to access the materials. On the portal, users can track their progress, access quizzes, and print a certifcate of completion upon completing the course.

Launch the Online Portal

These video vignettes are 2-3 minutes long, and they model safe bystander intervention in the workplace. They are offered in English and with Spanish subtitles. Click the link to view the video (will open in a new window).

Some ideas for using the video vignette training materials include: showing a video vignette at the next staff meeting, using the videos as part of domestic violence or sexual assault awareness month, or asking staff to view the videos.

In English

• How to Talk to An Employee Victim of Domestic or Sexual Violence
• How to Talk to An Employee Perpetrating Domestic or Sexual Violence
• How to Support a Colleague who is a Victim of Domestic or Sexual Violence
• How to Safely Intervene as a Bystander to Prevent Domestic Violence
• How to Safely Intervene to Prevent Sexual Violence

With Spanish Subtitles

• Cómo hablar a un Empleado Víctima de la violencia doméstica o sexual
• Cómo hablar con un empleado perpetrador de violencia doméstica o sexual
• Cómo ayudar a un colega que puede ser víctima de la violencia doméstica o asalto sexual
• Cómo intervenir de forma segura como un espectador para prevenir la violencia doméstica
• Cómo intervenir de forma segura como un espectador para prevenir el asalto sexual

Find a Local Expert

Employers are encouraged to reach out to the nearest domestic violence center and rape crisis center to connect with individuals who can assist with workplace training.

• View state domestic violence coalition listings to find your nearest domestic violence center.
• View state sexual assault coalition listings to find your nearest rape crisis center.

Get Help for Victims

Resources for Domestic Violence Victims

• National Hotline—Free and confidential assistance available 24/7
• 1-800-799-7233 | 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
• Visit TheHotline.org.

For a list of providers in your state:

• View State and Territory Domestic Violence Coalition Listings

Resources for Sexual Assault Victims

• National Hotline—Free and confidential assistance available 24/7
• 1-800-656-HOPE
• Online support
• Sponsored by the Rape, Abuse Incest National Network, this hotline connects callers to more than 1,000 rape crisis centers around the country.

For a list of providers in your state:

• View State and Territory Sexual Assault Coalition Listings