Not long ago an attorney called me about a client company of his.  They had an employee that was dealing with a difficult and abusive relationship; it was affecting her work, her attendance and her co-workers.

The company was at a loss for what to do and had contacted this attorney.   Knowing the dynamics of domestic abuse were beyond his area of comfort and expertise, he contacted me to see if I could help his client.

They had tried to reach out to her, but were somewhat lost as to how to go about it.  Their attempts were cut short by her refusal to talk.  And even after several years in their employment, by HR’s own admission, they knew virtually nothing about her.

The client and I planned for me to meet with their employee.  Understandably she was reluctant to speak to me and quite frankly, a little angry when the HR manager explained my presence.

Having not yet had the opportunity to do management training in this organization, the manager didn’t handle it in the most preferential and effective way; but we agreed that addressing the immediate issue of this woman’s safety would have to come first.

So she and I talked.  Bit by bit she opened up and during the course of the conversation she told me personal bits of information her employer of several years still didn’t know.  She allowed herself to cry in my presence, she read portions of my book Battered and Abused, Bringing the Darkness into the Light, and she even laughed at some lame jokes we made during our talk.  She took additional books and resources I brought for her.  I have a good feeling she’ll use them.

We spent two hours together.  It could have easily been more.  My understanding is that she’s doing pretty well now and is on the road to changing her life.  She’s in counseling and making plans to end the relationship safely.  That’s success.

When the dust settles, and it will soon, the company and I will work together on implementing what I call “the total strategy solutions”, the end to end consulting and training I provide.  But in the meantime it’s been another really rewarding experience to see a person, a family, and a company open that first door and begin walking the road to success.

bottom line · business · Coaching · company · conflict · consulting · costs · domestic abuse · domestic violence in the workplace · domestic violence prevention · employees · employer · lawsuit · leadership development · legal · management · offender · relationships · risk · Safety · strategic leadership · training · victim · violence

No comments yet.

<< A Fly on the Wall at a Parole Violation Hearing

Man Found Hiding in Bathtub >>