Episode 44: Workplace Abuse & Career Setbacks After Domestic Violence
In this episode of Almost Oblivious, Autumn dives into an often-overlooked consequence of domestic violence: how abuse seeps into the workplace, derails careers, and forces survivors to rebuild from setbacks. She shares her own (vague) experience with losing a job due to her situation, and walks listeners through:
The many forms workplace abuse can take (from harassment to retaliation)
Real-life survivor scenarios and how abuse impacted their work lives
Career setbacks survivors commonly face (gaps in work history, loss of confidence, economic abuse)
Strategies for rebuilding: resume framing, exploring trauma-informed employers, networking, and community resources
Legal protections and “safe leave” laws (federal and state-level) — with the crucial advice: check your own state laws
Words of hope: your career may have been disrupted, but it can be rebuilt on your terms
Listeners will have a better understanding of how DV affects professional life — and actionable tools to move forward.
Also, the episode ended up not being longer than anticipated. :)
🔗 Resources:
Hotlines & National Support
National Domestic Violence Hotline — Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788 The Hotline
The Hotline (website) — live chat, local provider directory, safety planning, resources The Hotline
NYS Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline (for New York listeners) — call 800-942-6906 or text 844-997-2121 Domestic Violence Prevention Office
Legal / Employment Protections & Information
U.S. Department of Labor — employment law FAQs and worker resources DOL
“4 Types of Employment Laws That Can Help DV Survivors at Work” — examples of state protections & safe leave laws DOL Blog
Washington State Domestic Violence Leave Act — job-protected leave, safety accommodations Washington Labor & Industries
Oregon’s domestic violence worker protections (reasonable accommodations, leave, confidentiality) Oregon
Domestic violence leave laws by state (overview/comparison) Paycor
Maryland “Domestic Violence & Your Job” — info on FMLA, safe leave, unemployment after DV Maryland People's Law Library
Statistics & Research
Survivors lose 8 million days of paid work per year in the U.S. due to DV. That’s equivalent to over 32,000 full-time jobs. The Hotline+2Center for Domestic Peace+2
Between 21% and 60% of survivors lose their jobs due to abuse-related reasons. dvptxk.org+2Center for Domestic Peace+2
In a survey, 83% of survivors reported their partner disrupted their employment or caused them to lose opportunities IWPR
In research, 8.5% of people with DV experience reported losing a job because of the abuse. PMC
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