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San Diego Family Justice Center Offering Domestic Violence Prevention Training To Businesses

Family Justice Center Alliance logo
Family Justice Center
Family Justice Center Alliance logo
San Diego Family Justice Center Offering Domestic Violence Prevention Training To Businesses
Lt. Misty Cedrun, San Diego Police Domestic Violence Unit. Cedrun is based at the Family Justice Center, which offers help to domestic violence victims. Jim Bird, manager, Global Investigations, Qualcomm Inc. Bird oversees his company's domestic violence prevention effort.

Listening to midday edition I'm Tom fights with them is that violence happens in the home the consequences can easily spill over to the workplace. Employers are not responsible for solving the problem but they are required to maintain a safe workplace and you might consider some policies that try to reduce her head off the problem of domestic violence. And no, that the.include firing the troubled domestic violence victim that is now prohibited by California law. The San Diego family Justice Center wants to get the word out to San Diego businesses about what they can and should try to do my guess to talk about this I miss the center and engine bird. She's the San Diego police Lieutenant in the domestic violence unit she is based at the family Justice Center which offer so the domestic violence victims and Lieutenant Cedric thank you for coming in Thank you And Jim Byrd's manager of global investigations for QUALCOMM also receives that the mystic violence prevention efforts and Mr. Berg, thank you Thank you Tom Lieutenant Cedric, what are you offering why you offering this in mystic violence or mention training to San Diego businesses I think the first of all I want to get the word out to corporate San Diego because I think that's one of the areas that were missing with training with awareness and we're doing a great job with education prevention and awareness in the private sector with smaller groups, with nonprofit agency, I think that we are missing an opportunity with corporate San Diego about sharing not only the risks that are present in the workplace but I don't think a lot of folks understand just how much the mystic violence the spillover into the workplace so it's more about just tried to get the word out to corporate San Diego What are the ways that you can spillover into the workplace what can happen Worktable, we have a lot of folks that come to the family center for help that are currently employed and they have disclosed that while the artwork, the X intimate partner or current boyfriend or girlfriend has come to the workplace to express anger or remorse for their coming to the workplace to stop them -- stalk them are suffering from fear from their employer, not they're afraid to go tell the employer the maybe it will lose their job. Or, worse yet, they are losing some productivity you might be calling in absent from work so there's all kinds of things that happen a lot of times we have small acts of vandalism that occur when the X intimate partner will go to the workplace and try to vandalize their partner's car, there are all kinds of things that happen in the workplace. Was a least one incident in San Diego were to mystic violence victim lost her job, was fired. Can you remind us what happened to Kerry Charlesworth? I believe that happen El Cajon it happened last year sometime I think in the first part of the year. She was a teacher at a private Catholic school and disclosed that she was the victim of domestic violence. In the employer aired on the side of caution and what they believed to be the safer side, the decided to terminate her employment because of the risks that might have been associated with her employment in case the ex-partner came to the workplace He did Yes. Was at the right decision? I cannot speak to what the reaction would think because it wasn't San Diego PD's case however when you terminate a victim, for the reasons of them being a victim of domestic violence, you'd exasperate their problem. Now you have someone who is being victimized by their intimate partner and now you've taken away their economic independence so you map with them even more in a position where it will be harder for them to solve the problem Well, Kerry Charlesworth did not file suit against holy Trinity school in El Cajon, in that case we just learned this morning that case is scheduled to go to trial in October unless they meet reaches settlement before we get to Jim, one question for you, and that is about the change in California law. We have a long now, we have a long now that says you cannot do that you cannot fire Sunday for that reason. Correct 8400 so we have something to think Kerry for which was establishing so is behind that legislation act and 8400 which has been passed makes it illegal for any company to terminate their employee base be sold on the recent disclosed that they are the victim of violence. My guest are misty Cedrun she is the police department in violence unit engine bird is a manager at QUALCOMM who oversees the rest of violence prevention effort. Jim, they get to you and ask you why did you think what do QUALCOMM think that it was important to provide some training to supervisors and to provide some options to domestic violence victims Part of it would be the answer the question you asked a minute ago were aware of what happens when 70 is going through a situation like this. Productivity drops dramatically, it brings some really bad talk to them it's easy to see how concerned they are not how this will spillover into many different areas alike. We need to be concerned about children in court appearances or whatever they have to do, it's in our best interest to supply that person to provide a person with as many resources as possible to help them mitigate those stresses Gives a few more specifics about what options employee like that would have -- if she and I guess, usually it's a she, came to you, and said, I have this problem will you do? Good question. There are many things we can do we work with our people in human resources, and employee relations, our security people get involved, there are resources available through the employee systems program, we had retained psychologist that we will refer to a talking about what he thinks, might be the next course of action of the aggressor, and how serious that threat like, and then copy on that, beyond what we can do, we refer them to the family Justice Center because they are equipped to take it to the next level. You got down to the justice center they can talk about how to help those they will help you with the process of attaining restraining order, it's like a one-stop shop where they have DA companies, counseling, a lot of resources that people may not know about soap part of my explanation is that besides everything we can do at QUALCOMM going to induce them to the resources available downtown Who provided training to QUALCOMM managers about this? A few years ago, we had a sergeant from the nice that violent come out I happen to have known some of these people over the years. And we had Lieutenant Cedric come over to QUALCOMM just as easily as December admitted presentation and we plan on bringing her back another occasions to discuss his problem And what you have to say about that Lieutenant I will tell you I'm so excited to be sharing his interview with QUALCOMM I'm so excited that they are willing to list about the progressive saying, where one of the top 50 company's in the world, and we understand that our employees have like problems and if one of those happens to be a situation as violent West concerning estimate the violence, we will not bear out heads in the sand will find out what resources we have an they have partnered up with the San Diego Police Department and the family Justice Center in the make referrals to us directly so we are excited to share this time and opportunities of training with QUALCOMM You know, what is the family Justice Center is that part of the police the part Correct the justice center is a unit within the San Diego Police Department that is -- is a location on 11th and Broadway were victims of domestic violence can come for services everything is free. We service can take care of adults, children, military, seniors. Basically they come if we get a safety assessment that the various first thing we do. After the assessment, if they asked for a restraining order, the legal clinic. We have counselors, folks that would help out the you for your court appearances, psychological services, it's all trauma care services that we provide Jim Byrd, how many employees do you have a QUALCOMM? Have about 16,000 here in San Diego 16,000 just here in San Diego Correct Does the fact I guess, of having so many employees these you are more likely to have a case like this and maybe it also region have more options for have to deal with this Advocates a fact the statistics are quite alarming him not a scholarly expert I haven't done a lot of research on above my position at QUALCOMM, a new spirit is that I had over the last five years their work with people in the situation, I understand over any demographic group, this will happen. One in four women that's a national specific and I've even heard as low as one in three so, you figure 16,000 employees that's a lot of possibilities for anybody Yes. And Jim, you said this can happen in any demographic in any class I guess that's a good point to make because a lot of people will look at QUALCOMM as soon, these are all like high-tech highly trained people, and maybe they don't have problems like this Yes Dick it's been our experience happens everywhere We have a highly educated workforce obviously two thirds of our employees are engineers but at any group it will happen It's also socioeconomic and education happens also high levels, unemployed employee, every race, every demographic. And, once again let me say I guess our misty Cedrun and she is based at the family Justice Center which offers help to the mystic violence victims and Jim Byrd is a manager for global investigations at QUALCOMM Incorporated he also oversees the mystic violence or mention ever. Jim, I know the QUALCOMM as locations in other cities even in other countries. His movie in employee from his or her current location to another location and option that you have? There are number of things we will consider and tried to keep our people safe. Simple things like having a security officer escort that person to her vehicle at night after work, maybe changing the work schedule, and yes, we have actually transferred people to out-of-state offices for a time while we thought the threat or the major would be diminished And was QUALCOMM doing to make victims feel more comfortable about coming forward? Part is making presentations like Lieutenant has done available and we have a training film that's available on QUALCOMM website for any employee for anytime they want professionally done presentations on recognizing signs of potential the mystic violence so the people would encourage their coworkers to step forward Misty, is that what employers need to do simply raise the subject to invite people to come forward if they have problems? There are a lot of things that up with an do one thing they can do is traceable they can do in less than 60 seconds and that's printing the mystic violence awareness posters and posting them around the restrooms, locker rooms, break areas, that's one thing they can do and also I believe the first line supervisors are force multipliers in the awareness and prevention of domestic violence. Two of corporations whether your small medium or large are really interested in addressing this problem, then invite the single Police Department and we will provide some once a training we had a great PowerPoint presentation that can show you first what is the mystic violence, how to recognize it, what to do, I called the watercooler intervention which is really providing kind of a sketch of how to approach your employee with a copy noticed you're not maybe yourself today is anything wrong? Is there anything I can do? Something as simple as that -- if you provide some framework first line supervisors because they are the folks that have their finger on the pulse of their employees. And if we can get them train on what the mystic violence is, what to do about it, you're than on a better track just a QUALCOMM is already doing in preventing any violence in the workplace. You hoping that QUALCOMM sets an example for other companies? Yes I am that's why I'm so excited to be sitting here with Jim and their team did a very gracious to the San Diego Police Department their great partners with us. If there's any company out there that wants to have some training, we would certainly welcome that The family Justice Center is celebrating Valentine's Day this week. You want to tell me about that? It sounds a little odd that we have the Police Department the family Justice Center celebrating Valentine's Day. Let me clarify -- JC Quinn started the first really just a center back in 2002, they are now the San Diego justice center alliance they have been gracious enough to purchase roses and chocolate we're doing this in partnership with them, to invite victims that have never visited the family Justice Center so the first time visiting the family center this week, the night through 13th, we want to honor you by the courageous active in breaking away from your abusive partner, on Valentine's Day this weekend we want to give you a Rose and some chocolate just to say, thank you, and we honor you for your courageous act we would rather you are alone on Valentine's Day which is Saturday then be with that abusive partner and in every abusive relationship. We want to be safe and alone than being hurt and staying in that relationship so come down to the center this week were open Monday through Friday eight were open Monday through Friday 805 You will be our Swihart Thank you Jim, any last words from you? Were invited to come down here by the San Diego Police Department and the Lieutenant. We're I just accommodate any request that they make their wonderful part is they do a lot for us and we tried to be good citizens and do things for them also. It's also an opportunity for us as a world leader in wireless technology as a well-known commodity here in San Diego, we do feel it's a corporate responsibility. We have to be on the forefront. We have our own programs that seem to be working well let to continue to refine us but also if we help get help in getting the word out hope other people do the same thing of the businesses, we're delighted to cooperate Jim Byrd's manager for global investigations at QUALCOMM Incorporated the also oversees that the mystic violence prevention efforts and Jim, thank you very much. Thank you Misty's Cedrun is Indio Police Lieutenant and that the mystic violence unit she is based at the family Justice Center which offers help to domestic violence victims Misty, thank you Thank you for having us

When domestic violence happens in the home, the consequences can easily spill over into the workplace.

While employers are not responsible for solving the problem, they are required to maintain a safe workplace. That doesn't mean they should fire the troubled domestic violence victim – that's now prohibited by California law. But they might consider some policies that try to reduce or head off the problems domestic violence can bring to the office.

The San Diego Family Justice Center is working with local businesses to do just that. It's getting the word out about what employers can and should try to do to help victims of domestic violence.