This risk screening tool can be used if an employee voluntarily seeks help or if they are referred because of warning signs or a critical incident.
Inform Your Employee
Information gathered in this interview will be treated carefully and will only be shared as necessary to ensure safety. It is not possible to guarantee confidentiality. If threats of imminent harm are disclosed, it could lead to a police call.
Points to Remember
- The questions here ask about violence. Unless there is a reference to physical violence, we are referring to both psychological and physical violence. Psychological violence can escalate to physical violence. Sometimes this can happen quickly.
- Risk is often dynamic and can change from day to day, especially if there is a triggering event. Some examples of a triggering event that could escalate risk are the victim contacting a lawyer, the victim beginning a new relationship or the victim otherwise moving on with their life. It is also important to watch for escalation in the frequency or intensity of abuse.
- Although this screening tool may be a helpful guide to action, nothing can replace your employee’s intuition and your own intuition about potential risks in the context of the unique circumstances that you are learning about. It is important to consult with trusted colleagues when facing challenging situations.
- Based on the responses from the employee, we are providing you with a preliminary risk screening assessment and recommendations for follow-up action. You will need to discuss follow-up actions with the employee. As you have that conversation, remind the employee about the supports and resources that are available to them at work.
- Establishing a relationship of trust with the employee will help them to feel comfortable enough to be open and honest with you about what is really happening. The more information you have about the situation, the better able you will be to keep the employee who is experiencing domestic violence and everyone else in the workplace safe.
- As you interview the employee, you may learn about current criminal behaviour that is related to your workplace. Reporting this behaviour to police can help to protect your workplace. If you learn of criminal behaviour, but do not think that there is an imminent risk of harm, you can call the non-emergency contact number for your police service.
- You may also learn about incidents or circumstances that lead you to believe there is an imminent risk of harm. If you do believe there is an imminent risk of harm call 911 and/or contact Security for your organization immediately.