Deadly Domestic Dispute Sheds Light On Office Relationships

from KHBS-TV

Officials say a shooting that killed three people and left four more injured in an Albuquerque, N.M., workplace was an act of domestic violence.

Experts said that kind of abuse in the workplace usually doesn’t happen on such a large scale, but it isn’t as uncommon as you may think.

Dr. Kameri Christy-McMullin of the University of Arkansas School of Social Work said there isn’t any need to feel like you’re in danger. But, as a worker, you need to be aware of any potentially abusive situations that may be going on in your life or in the life of a co-worker.

Christy-McMullin said workplace abuse usually happens on a much smaller scale than the shooting that happened in Albuquerque.

“Often times an abusive partner will call the job a lot either harass the woman while she’s at work or her colleagues and even will show up at work and interfere with her time, will prevent her from going to work,” Christy-McMullin said.

She said many things can those confrontations. Often times, it’s professional competition between the partners.

“If he loses his job, because of whatever reason … the economy or he’s been doing things at work that his employees don’t like … whether they are employed at the same place, he may blame her for that,” Christy-McMullin said.

The poor economy may also play a role.

“I don’t think that we can say necessarily that the economy is to blame for that,” Christy-McMullin said, “But it can certainly take a situation that is already really stressful and make it worse.”

Christy-McMullin said many people may be embarrassed to admit they are being abused or are reluctant to point out abuse in a co-worker’s relationship, but it’s important to work around that embarrassment in order to maintain a safe work environment.

“The first step is acknowledging that this is going on and realizing that this is not the woman’s fault, that she’s not asking for this, she’s not encouraging this, she’s not enjoying it, and that she could probably use some help and some support in figuring out how she can best deal with it,” Christy-McMullin said.

Christy-McMullin said that workplace abuse has been happening for a long time, but added that workplaces have gotten more proactive in encouraging employees to recognize abuse.

She also said more employers have professional security on the premises.