The experience of work and workplace disclosure for women living with the effects of intimate partner abuse

Context: Historically considered to be a private issue, the organisational impact of Intimate Partner Abuse (IP Abuse) and the potential role that work plays in the lives of those living with abuse has begun to attract increasing attention. Literature which engages with the interaction between work and Intimate Partner Abuse crosses a range of disciplines; it is, however, notably absent within the Organisational Management literature and has tended to be atheoretical in nature. Beginning from the premise that work potentially offers a social setting capable of supporting the three needs of autonomy, belongingness and competence identified via self-determination theory (SDT), this research explores the experience of work for women living with the effects of IP Abuse and begins to bridge the existing gap. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven women living with the effects of IP Abuse to understand their experiences of work before and after disclosure; and their experiences of and aspirations for workplace support. Interview transcripts were interpreted via Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis with the women’s accounts set against the context of existing literature, prevailing attitudes towards abuse survivors and the researcher’s own reflections of this highly emotive research area. Key Findings: The research identified a number of key themes and explores women’s experiences of work, disclosure and support in the context of: issues of shame, blame and the stigma of abuse, the existence of multiple roles including a workplace persona, interactions with co-workers, personal autonomy and impact, the journey towards becoming a survivor of abuse, post-traumatic growth and the prevailing support model for those who disclose abuse. For women living with IP Abuse, work is experienced as a social setting capable of supporting the three needs (identified by SDT); by allowing women the opportunity to exercise autonomy over their workplace interactions, experience a sense of professional belonging and be recognised as capable, reliable individuals. Contrary to existing findings, the women reported that workplace disclosure has the potential to undermine the three needs and lead to negative workplace consequences. Workplace responses to disclosure were varied, and largely influenced by management and co-worker attitudes towards abuse survivors rather than informed by workplace policy. The research gives insights into the lived experience of work against the backdrop of prevailing attitudes towards abuse survivors and identifies IP Abuse as a liminal experience. It identifies some potential issues with the prevailing model of workplace support for abuse survivors and highlights the primary role of organisational culture in supporting employees dealing with traumatic life events.