Ottawa: A new national initiative has been launched across Canada to help employers identify and support staff members who may be experiencing domestic violence. The campaign, titled ‘ReferHer.ca’, was introduced by Women’s Shelters Canada to raise awareness about how domestic abuse manifests in professional settings. The project aims to educate business leaders that behaviors often mistaken for poor performance—such as lack of concentration, social withdrawal, or frequent tardiness—are frequently the hidden results of abuse at home.
The campaign emphasizes that employers have both a legal and moral responsibility to support their workers during such crises. Under various federal and provincial laws, survivors of domestic violence are entitled to job-protected leave to seek medical care, legal assistance, or new housing. In many provinces, this includes five days of paid leave or several weeks of unpaid leave. The initiative encourages managers to stop viewing struggling employees as “difficult” and instead start asking what support they might need to stay safe and employed.
Prominent activist and filmmaker Sarain Fox, a key voice for the campaign, noted that women experiencing violence are often isolated, and the workplace may be their only safe connection to the outside world. She highlighted that even small gestures of support from a colleague or supervisor can lead to life-saving changes. By recognizing the warning signs—such as a sudden drop in productivity or a colleague avoiding their coworkers—employers can act as a vital bridge to professional help and community shelters.
Officials from Women’s Shelters Canada clarified that the goal is not to turn managers into private investigators or counselors, but to foster an environment of empathy and awareness. The ReferHer.ca platform provides tools for employers to notice changes in their staff and guide them toward existing legal rights and support networks. By addressing these issues openly, the campaign seeks to transform the workplace from a site of stress into a critical lifeline for survivors across the country.
