Workplace responses to perpetration of family and domestic violence: a global scoping review

Introduction Family and domestic violence (FDV), which includes intimate partner and family violence, affects workplace safety through spillover impacts on workers, organisations, and occupational health systems. To date, workplace interventions addressing the issue of FDV have predominantly concentrated on providing support to victim-survivors, while there is limited research regarding employer responses to employees who perpetrate such violence. Method A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines, which examined existing evidence from workplace policies, practices, and organisational mechanisms addressing FDV perpetration by workers. Peer-reviewed studies and high-quality grey literature on workplace responses to perpetration of FDV were systematically searched across multiple databases and online sources, and 28 documents on workplace responses to FDV perpetration were analysed. Results Findings from the scoping review reveal four dominant insights across the literature: 1. Perpetration of FDV is a major workplace problem, yet responses are under-researched; 2. Workplaces employ wide-ranging and varied responses, from zero tolerance dismissal of perpetrators to responsibility avoidance; 3. Responses lack a solid evidence-base and regulatory frameworks to address the problem remain weak; 4. Practical strategies are provided to better manage risk, strengthen safety, and reduce violence. Conclusion Our findings underscore the need for clearer organisational guidance, evidence-based strategies, and robust regulatory frameworks to strengthen workplace responses to FDV perpetration and improve occupational safety outcomes. Practical applications Effective workplace responses to perpetration of FDV should consider work design factors, referral pathways and confidentiality protections which are guided by graduated accountability models and regulatory frameworks.