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When something traumatic happens in a person’s life, their support system (or lack thereof) can dramatically impact their healing journey. This is especially true for sexual assault victims, since sexual assault is still a taboo traumatic event to which our communities are still figuring out how to respond. For survivors who make the decision to take their assailant to trial, they need to have people surrounding them who are willing to stand by them during this difficult time. Friends, family, colleagues, and community members can all play a part in helping the survivor get what they need. In this week’s blog, we will be discussing how workplaces can support colleagues before and during their sexual assault trial. Even after the trial is over, these tips can be revisited to support survivors going forward.
The decision to report sexual assault to law enforcement is not an easy one. Sexual assault is a notoriously underreported crime, due to a variety of factors including a fear of retaliation from the perpetrator, a sense of shame, a belief that they won’t be believed, and a mistrust in law enforcement. Dealing with sexual assault is also costly, posing an average lifetime economic burden of $122,461 per victim for medical services, legal aid, and other personal losses to the survivor. We also know that the court system does not favor survivors, with less than 4% of sexual crimes ever resulting in conviction. These internal and external obstacles make giving an initial statement a tremendous act of courage, and it is still only the first step in an incredibly difficult process.
Studies have shown that the process of preparing for a sexual assault trial is retraumatizing to the survivor. Revisiting the most difficult event of your life in front of police, lawyers, jury members, and judges in explicit detail is emotionally overwhelming. If the trial becomes public knowledge, survivors can face in-person and online harassment as well as social isolation. Confronting their assailant is terrifying. Character assassination, financial strife, and poor mental and physical health outcomes are just some of the things experienced by survivors in the largely non-trauma-informed judicial system. This is why we need all hands on deck, with each of us doing our part to create ease during this process for survivors.
Workplaces and colleagues may not know what to say or how to offer to survivors who decide to bring their assailant to trial. Below are some of our recommendations.
Don’t Pry for Details
If a survivor discloses their story to their colleague, the most important thing that colleague can do is be a good listener. Survivors going through this process are detailing their story to strangers in excruciating detail already, so when they want to speak to someone close to them that likely won’t be something they want to replicate. The Clery Center notes that:
“Asking for specific information about what happened can come across as if you don’t believe them and can imply that you think they are to blame for what happened. Instead, ask questions to better understand how they are feeling and the impact the assault is having so you know how to best support them.”
If a colleague listens without judgment, interruption, or pressing for more information, and maintains confidentiality, the survivor can be more confident that they have a trustworthy person to turn to in their time of need.
Offer Victim-Centered Resources
Colleagues and workplaces are likely not experts in gender-based violence, nor should they be expected to be. What they can do is connect survivors to those who are. Look into RALIANCE’s Directory of Rape Crisis Centers to find local centers that can get survivors in touch with support groups, mental health support services, relocation services and even victim advocates to help them navigate the legal process. We also recommend passing along the following hotlines for survivors to use if they are in crisis outside of office hours:
–National Sexual Assault Hotline
–National Domestic Violence Hotline
–National Dating Abuse Hotline (co-created by Break the Cycle): 1.866.331.9474 or text “LOVEIS” to 22522
Provide Flexible Hours and Other Accommodations
In addition to offering emotional support for a survivor, colleagues and employers can provide additional accommodations and aid. After a sexual assault, particularly if it was perpetrated by an intimate partner, a survivor’s lifetime routine can be turned completely upside down. They may need to find new modes of transportation (or work remotely for their safety). Their demands for childcare may change. They may even need to find a new place to stay. An employer can help mitigate this burden by allowing flexible hours to accommodate these unexpected obstacles. Colleagues might also consider volunteering their time to help a survivor in their life. Whether it’s offering to give rides to the survivor to meet with their attorney or picking up a grocery order, each and every action can make a huge difference for that survivor.
Employers should also keep in mind that assault-related trauma conditions are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Job Accommodation Network lays out how sexual assault-related PTSD symptoms can and should be accommodated for, along with practical examples of how to do so. One study found that, “50% of rape victims lost or were forced to quit their jobs in the year following their rapes because of the severity of their reactions.” Meeting survivors where they are instead of letting them go maintains some stability and financial security in their lives, which is vital for all survivors who wish to bring their assailant to justice in the legal system.
Respect Autonomy of Survivor
Respect the autonomy of the survivor by letting them guide where they want the case to go. A colleague can be a great support to a survivor, but they are not a legal advisor. No one knows the exact life circumstances and internal experiences of a survivor except the survivor themselves, so it is wrong to assume that anyone can know what they would do in the survivor’s situation. Whether a survivor decides to testify, supports a plea deal, or decides in the middle of the process to drop the case, that survivor must be empowered to make that decision on their own terms. An assault leaves a survivor’s life feeling out of control, and they deserve to have all options available to them to gain some of their power back.
Understand that Vicarious Trauma Deserves to be Treated Too
In the past, we have written about the impacts of vicarious trauma in the workplace. This is because we understand that no one can save someone from drowning when they’re barely staying afloat. Being a constant support to a survivor can have its own emotional toll, which is why we strongly recommend learning about the effects of vicarious trauma and what the workplace can do to meet the needs of those dealing with it. In addition to reviewing our previously mentioned blog on the subject, we also encourage these colleagues to seek out mental support services if they need it, practice self-care, and be kind to themselves as they deal with such sensitive subject matter.
Colleagues and workplaces are just one part of our communities that need to do better by survivors pursuing justice in the legal system. However, it is our belief that workplaces can offer healing supports and can drive us towards a safer, more respectful world. In the future, we hope to see employers stand by survivors, ask what they need, and meet them throughout the process in a compassionate, trauma-informed way.
RALIANCE is a trusted adviser for organizations committed to building cultures that are safe, equitable, and respectful. RALIANCE offers unparalleled expertise in serving survivors of sexual harassment, misconduct, and abuse which drives our mission to help organizations across sectors create inclusive environments for all. For more information, please visit www.RALIANCE.org.
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