There were quite a few entrants!  Although, interestingly, they were all female. I thought that was both surprising, and not surprising.  It surprised me because 85% of domestic violence and abuse victims are women.  So it would stand to reason more would want to participate in the contest and submit their views.  This was intended to hear your thoughts on domestic violence in the workplace and personal safety.

But men keep telling me they are not being heard.  Even if a Starbuck’s gift card contest was not high on their list of ways to be heard – it’s still something.  So, frankly, I’m disappointed.  Guys, you were invited to speak up and enter your observations and your thoughts.  It would have taken you the same five minutes it took the women.  We are all busy.   You had your chance.

I’m going to randomly select comments submitted by entrants to include in my newsletter, tweets and my blog.  Because we all benefit from the insights of people whose personal antennae changed to what they saw around them; from news stories, or friends and family members struggling with intimate partner violence as a result of Human Resource Essential’s work.

I wrote all the entrant’s names on same-size slips of paper and drew one out of the bucket.

Dawn Brockman won the $50 Starbucks gift card!  Just in time for pumpkin frappes and peppermint lattes!  Enjoy the card, Dawn, and thank you for participating!

collaboration · conversation · domestic violence in the workplace · domestic violence prevention · employees · relationships · stress in the workplace · team work · violence

I like to read the newspaper from cover to cover.  At least to check out the headlines then choose which articles to read.  Yesterday, on the final day of domestic violence Awareness Month, I came across this Letter to the Editor.  It’s written by my friend, Connie Phillips, who is the Executive Director of Sojourner Center, the country’s largest domestic violence shelter, which is right here in Phoenix.

I sent her a congratulatory email, and mentioned that I’d also submitted a letter to the Editor a month ago, which has not yet run.  If it doesn’t, I may just post it here on my Domestic Violence in the Workplace blog.

Check out what a great letter Connie wrote:

Phillips: Law needs to take domestic violence seriously

business · Coaching · conversation · domestic abuse · domestic violence in the workplace · employees · Personal Safety · strategic leadership · victim · violence