“Last bastion of freedom” and “only window on the outside” for some women who are victims of domestic violence, workplaces are an “ideal place” to reach out to them. To equip employers and colleagues, the Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victims de violence conjugale launched a new awareness program on Tuesday — accompanied by an “Allied workplaces against domestic violence” certification — which is offered free of charge to all businesses in the Quebec.
According to Chantal Arseneault, president of the Regroupement, workplaces must be part of the solution to counter domestic violence. “Since the spouse is not always next to the victim [lorsqu’elle travaille]it’s a window of opportunity to come forward and be offered help,” she explains.
A woman will be more daring to open up with a word or a gesture that could change her life if her employer has set up a “safe and supportive environment for victims,” she adds. The new program — whose implementation is “very good news” for victims according to the Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Isabelle Charest — will benefit from government funding of $150,000 over three years.
“We can all make a difference,” said the minister at a press briefing on Tuesday. The best way to help is to be well informed about the phenomenon [de violence conjugale] and to be on the lookout for its manifestations which are not always obvious. »
Tangible effects
Already, large companies such as Desjardins and the City of Laval are participating in the Regroupement program. At Desjardins, human resources professionals have been trained on domestic violence issues. An intranet page listing specialized resources in this area has been created. And a conference with Ingrid Falaise, author of the book The monsterwhich recounts her journey as a victim of domestic violence, was organized.
A salutary effect was noted in a few months, underlined Geneviève Mérette, responsible for the Office of the respect of the person of Desjardins. “Following the conference of Mme Falaise, we have heard that a woman has left her violent partner. It motivated her and gave her the energy to do it. »
During the holidays, another employee victim contacted the Office of Respect for Persons. An accompaniment was offered to him, reported Mme Mérette, and she decided to leave her violent spouse. “It proves that when people are well supported, it gives them courage to go further. »
Sandra El-Helou, member of the executive committee responsible for the status of women file at Ville de Laval, said she was “very proud” of this new step taken to counter domestic violence in which her municipality is participating. She issued an invitation to all employers and unions to join “in this important movement to help create a caring and supportive society”.
“Domestic violence is everyone’s business,” added the municipal councilor of Souvenir-Labelle. And only by joining forces and working together can we stop it. »
Lift the taboo
Other organizations, such as the Quebec Association of Early Childhood Centers (AQCPE) and the Syndicat des Métallos, have already responded to the initiative launched by the Regroupement.
Geneviève Bélisle, Executive Director of the AQCPE, said she would like a resource person to be trained in each CPE to support employees who are victims of domestic violence. 95% of CPE employees are women, she recalled.
As for the United Steelworkers, it was hit hard by a feminicide that occurred last winter, reported Clairandrée Cauchy, communications manager for the union. Nadège Jolicoeur, mother of five children murdered in March 2021 by her spouse who then took his own life, was a union activist who had participated in the negotiations for the signing of the last collective agreement of the Steelworkers.
“It was an electric shock. We know it exists, we talk about it. But there was [désormais] a name, a face on this reality”, mentioned with emotion Mme Cauchy.
In addition to supporting the victims, work must be done with the aggressors, she added, specifying that the Steelworkers Union is made up of 80% men. “In a union of guys, the contribution we can have is to lift the taboo, that these things talk to each other. […] There’s no one better than a guy to tell another guy he’s going too far or needs help,” she said.