Domestic violence isn't just a family or social issue.

"It has a major impact in the workplace," according to Cathy Willis Spraetz, president and CEO of Partnership Against Domestic Violence.

One in three women will experience intimate-partner violence — and most of those women work, Spraetz said.

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used by one partner to control and have power over another partner.

"More than 70 percent of businesses have no formal policy that addresses domestic violence, yet

64 percent of employed domestic-

violence survivors indicated that their work performance was impacted by violence," Spraetz said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that domestic violence costs businesses $8.3 billion because of increased use of health care, increased absenteeism and decreased productivity. For the employee, domestic violence can result in sleep deprivation, depression and anxiety, missed work because of injuries, harassing phone calls and e-mails, or even visits from the batterer to the workplace.

"A woman may think that she will minimize the danger if she leaves and goes to a shelter, but the partner still knows where she works," Spraetz said.

The extreme result can be homicide.

To raise awareness and help companies understand domestic violence, the PADV holds the When Domestic Violence Goes to Work conference each spring (April 24, 2008).

The organization trains company leaders and employees at lunch-and-learn sessions and through counseling. In January it will begin offering companies on-site workshops to learn how to develop policies, create safe environments and take precautions.

While many companies don't make addressing domestic violence a priority, "they need to be proactive about the problem and understand the liability issues of ignoring it," Spraetz said.

Spraetz encourages companies to establish no-violence policies that support victims of domestic violence and to educate employees about it.

"People don't understand that it's not about anger, but power and control," Spraetz said.

"Send the message to employees that your company is a safe place to disclose the problem," she said. Put brochures in the breakroom. "Refer the victim or the batterer to [employee assistance program] services, and make sure it's someone specifically trained in domestic violence."

Companies should take steps to increase safety at the workplace, Spraetz said. Move the victim to a safer location in the office, and alert security. Show security guards the batterer's photo.

"Companies can also call the police and take out restraining orders against a batterer," she said. "When a company does have a policy and initiates a response, its liability goes way down."

Domestic violence is an underreported problem, but, by raising awareness, companies can be part of the solution. To learn more, visit www.padv.org.