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WHEREAS, in the 21 years since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, the silence surrounding partner violence has been broken, reaching survivors, preventing incidences of abuse, and saving lives. While these achievements are critical, partner violence remains a devastating public health crisis; and,
WHEREAS, one of the most important areas of concern is the influence partner violence has on the workplace and workforce. Partner violence affects employers' bottom line by impacting productivity and liability and the employer plays a crucial role in protecting the workplace from violence related to partner abuse; and,
WHEREAS, STANDING FIRM alerts employers to the financial, safety, and human costs of partner violence in the workplace and workforce and equips them with the tools for taking effective organizational action; and,
WHEREAS, after joining STANDING FIRM: the Business Case to End Partner Violence in 2010, Familylinks has implemented best practice action steps suggested by STANDING FIRM, including Board approved policies and procedures for assisting employees who might be victims of partner violence; and,
WHEREAS, to create a culture of safety in the workplace, Familylinks also provides new employee orientation to make new employees aware of resources available to them and in-person training for managers and supervisors so that they will be able to recognize victims and perpetrators, know what to say, and know where to refer; and,
WHEREAS, with STANDING FIRM's guidance, Familylinks ultimately created a safer environment for its employees, clients, and visitors; and,
WHEREAS, STANDING FIRM awarded its 2014 Employer Award to Familylinks in recognition of its superior integration of business practices addressing partner violence that promote the safety of the workplace and well-being of the workforce.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend Familylinks for having received the 2014 STANDING FIRM Employer Award, and for providing a safe and supportive environment for its employees and others who enter their buildings.