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Abstract: 

With increased national awareness of domestic violence and its effects in the workplace, employers are slowly instituting policies and practices to address domestic violence on the job. Absent from these measures is any recognition of another pressing workplace violence issue—stalking. Although stalking and domestic violence have certain shared characteristics, stalking is a separate phenomenon that merits separate attention. Stalking is a problem characterized by behavioral patterns and risks that are distinctive from domestic violence. It affects women in a broader range of circumstances thandomestic violence; stalking occurs not only during a battering relationship, but also after the relationship has ended, as well as in situations where there has been no intimate relationship, such as in acquaintance or stranger stalking. Consequently, there are additional safety precautions and legal remedies to consider in stalking situations that may not be applicable or available to women who are victims of domestic violence. If advocates and employers broaden their focus beyond domestic violence, and also target stalking, women will be safer, both at home and at work, and the threat of violence in the workplace will decrease significantly. This article discusses the issue and provides recommendations.

Keywords: violence linked to stalking at work; “no trespass” order

Affiliations:  1: Northwest Women’s Law Center; 2: Legal Aid Services of Oregon.