In All But Six States, You Can Be Fired For Being A Victim Of Domestic Violence

[LanternWaste]

Last week, Carie Charlesworth, a teacher in California and a victim of domestic violence, was fired from her job because her abusive husband invaded the school parking lot and put the school on lockdown. While her abuser was sent to prison, she was also punished for his crime by losing her employment.

For their part, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that only about 15 percent of employers have a workplace policy that specifically addresses domestic violence.

The laws are sparse, but the abuse at work is not. One study found that nearly three-quarters of abused women were harassed by their partner while at work. Homicide is a leading cause of workplace deaths for women, second only to roadway incidents.

But discrimination like the kind that Charlesworth experienced can lead victims to shy away from reporting. Of the 4 million workplace crimes committed against women from 1993-1990, less than half were reported to the police.



http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/06/20/2190691/domestic-violence-employment-discrimination/


I still believe that in the Charlesworth case, the school simply kicked the problem into the lap of her next employer. And that employer may quite possibly do the exact same thing.

A victim of abuse, then a victim of the system. And going further than not addressing the actual problem, it adds the burden of employment problems to the victim.

Not until we have national discourse on this, shame those responsible, and give awareness to those who think firing her was a good course for the school, we are also kicking the problem down the road.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. DU Rec

[ismnotwasm]

2. Yeah

This is so ugly because its where the rubber hits the road. You have a Victim; to protect kids, from lack of sympathy or lack of resources or fear of lawsuits-- whatever--you fire the victim of DV. Not only does she lose her livelihood, she'll have a hard time finding a job. She's got kids. She's in danger.

And that piece of shit is getting out any day now.

Now what? Her only reasonable option is to somehow hide and sue the school.

None of which changes the fact that piece of shit is getting out any day now.

I still don't see why, in these cases they don't charge the perpetrator's with domestic terrorism. Because that is exactly what it is.

[elehhhhna]

3. this is a very complex thing

1 in 25 murders in the US happen at work. The VAST majority of those are women killed by their BF/spouse/ex.

Once he put that school on lockdown he should have been in jail for a long time, imo.

[nomorenomore08]

4. Federal charges, like I said. Make an example of the guy.

[Omaha Steve]

5. Should be posted in GD too

K&R!

[duffyduff]

6. It's a private school, so she was an "at-will" employee anyway

She's not in a protected class.

It still doesn't make the termination right.

[LanternWaste]

8. I don't think anyone is saying the right to fire her didn't exist.

I don't think anyone is saying or arguing that the right to fire her doesn't exist. Merely that the school rationalize the school is using is nothing more than punting the very same problem they want to avoid onto her next employer, and thus the cycle continues.

[PsychoBunny]

7. That really doesn't seem fair

how can we fix this?