State

In the U.S., sectors such as the agriculture, restaurant, hospitality, health care, janitorial/domestic work, and retail industries have the highest rates of violence and exploitation of their workers, who are often low-wage and immigrant workers. That is why Workplaces Respond focuses in these types or workplaces to create and disseminate of culturally-relevant and industry-appropriate best practices to increase worker safety and economic security.

In 2019, Workplaces Respond worked closely with the Iowa Department of Public Health to help develop a training and education program that would build the capacity of providers and supervisors within Iowa’s Community Health Centers which help Iowans of all ages – from infants to the elderly – and regardless of income or insurance status find high quality, affordable health care in the state. A team of stakeholders from Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Iowa Department of Human Rights-Office on the Status of Women, Iowa Primary Care Association and the University of Iowa collaborated with Workplaces Respond to adapt the model healthcare industry training for a community health center setting to equip staff with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to better prevent and respond to instances of violence among patients, visitors, co-workers and supervisors. The collaboration culminated with a 1.5 day train-the-trainer session in which Workplaces Respond prepared state trainers to implement the education and training program within community health centers. Workplaces Respond continues to provide technical assistance as the Iowa Department of Public Health implements and evaluates these efforts.

Local

Workplaces Responds remains available and enthusiastic to support the full range of state and local organizations in the U.S. to build resilient workplace communities.

Unions play a critical role in advancing safety and justice for its members. Recognizing the impacts gender-based violence has among workers within the hospitality industry it represents, UNITE HERE! Local 23 in New Orleans, LA, Biloxi, MS, and Atlanta and Columbus, GA, collaborated with Workplaces Respond to design and implement an education and training program for its shop stewards, committee leaders, and other organizers. Through a series of listening sessions, interviews, and curriculum design meetings, Workplaces Respond worked with UNITE HERE! leadership to develop a three-part training curriculum that takes an intersectional approach to would build the capacity of union leaders Unions play a critical role in advancing safety and justice for its members. Recognizing the impacts gender-based violence has among workers within the hospitality industry it represents, UNITE HERE! Local 23 in New Orleans, LA, Biloxi, MS, and Atlanta and Columbus, GA, collaborated with Workplaces Respond to design and implement an education and training program for its shop stewards, committee leaders, and other organizers. Through a series of listening sessions, interviews, and curriculum design meetings, Workplaces Respond worked with UNITE HERE! leadership to develop a three-part training curriculum that takes an intersectional approach to would build the capacity of union leaders to recognize domestic and sexual violence and stalking among its members, connect gender-based violence to other forms of discrimination and oppression, provide supportive responses that centers survivors, and build a culture of accountability and prevention. Through this partnership, a new model curriculum for unions was established that centers working free of violence as a core workers’ rights issue.