One of the things I've learned through this work is that domestic and family violence often shows up in ways people don't expect.
Sometimes it's not a visible injury.
Sometimes it's not a disclosure.
Sometimes it's a constant stream of calls during the workday.
A partner demanding to know someone's location.
Access to emails, passwords or social media accounts.
Technology has created incredible opportunities for connection and flexibility. Unfortunately, it has also created new opportunities for monitoring, harassment and control.
The Australian eSafety Commissioner notes that the majority of women experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence experience part of that violence online or through digital technology, often in the form of technology-facilitated coercive control, cyberstalking or image-based abuse. [esafety.gov.au]
That's a conversation I think workplaces need to start paying much closer attention to.
When organisations think about domestic and family violence, the focus is often on policies, leave provisions, manager capability and employee support.
And those things matter.
But technology is increasingly becoming part of the picture.
Technology is embedded in almost every aspect of modern work.
But when domestic and family violence is present, technology can also become a tool for monitoring, intimidation and coercive control.
And that creates risks many organisations may not have considered.
Safety is no longer just physical
When many people think about domestic and family violence, they picture physical violence.
The reality is that abuse can take many forms.
One of the fastest-growing concerns is the use of technology to monitor, intimidate and control victim-survivors.
Research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies describes technology-facilitated coercive control as the use of digital technologies to monitor, harass, stalk and control a current or former partner. Importantly, these behaviours rarely occur in isolation. They are often part of broader patterns of coercive control and abuse. [aifs.gov.au], [esafety.gov.au]
This might include:
Excessive calls, texts or messages throughout the workday
Monitoring social media activity
Tracking locations through devices or apps
Demanding access to passwords or accounts
Monitoring emails or digital communications
Harassing employees through workplace contact details
Using shared technology to gather information about a person's movements or activities
For victim-survivors, these behaviours can create ongoing anxiety, fear and concerns about privacy and safety.
And because much of this behaviour happens digitally, it can be difficult for managers and colleagues to see.
Workplace systems can create unintended risks
Most workplace technology is designed to improve communication and efficiency.
But in some circumstances, these systems can inadvertently create safety risks.
For example:
Employee contact information may be visible to a broader group than necessary.
Shared calendars may reveal locations and movements.
Online staff directories may provide access to phone numbers or work locations.
Automated emails may disclose information employees wish to keep private.
Flexible work arrangements may unintentionally expose work patterns or locations.
None of these systems are problematic on their own.
The challenge is recognising that when domestic and family violence is present, the way information is shared and accessed matters.
Because what feels routine for most employees may have very different implications for someone whose safety is being compromised.
Sometimes the small things matter most
When employers think about supporting someone experiencing domestic and family violence, it's easy to focus on the big things.
Policies.
Leave provisions.
Referral pathways.
All of these matter.
But often it's the smaller moments that shape whether someone feels safe enough to seek support.
A manager checking in.
A colleague noticing something has changed.
A conversation handled with care rather than curiosity.
A workplace that respects privacy without creating barriers to support.
For someone experiencing domestic and family violence, these moments can influence whether they feel safe, believed and supported.
Because creating a safer workplace isn't only about having the right policies.
It's also about creating a culture where people know they are not alone.
Why manager capability still matters
Technology may be changing the way abuse occurs, but one thing remains the same.
People leaders are often the first point of contact.
Managers don't need to become experts in technology-facilitated abuse.
But they do need enough awareness to recognise that technology can become part of a broader pattern of coercive control.
Questions such as:
Are there privacy concerns we need to consider?
Are workplace systems creating any unintended risks?
Does the employee feel safe being contacted through normal channels?
Are there workplace adjustments that may support safety?
can help broaden conversations beyond traditional support measures.
Sometimes the most valuable thing a manager can do is remain curious, listen carefully and understand that technology may be part of the risk picture.
Moving from awareness to preparedness
Most organisations already have policies covering privacy, technology use and workplace conduct.
The opportunity is ensuring these conversations connect.
A national roundtable convened by the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission and the eSafety Commissioner highlighted the ongoing need for greater awareness of technology as a mechanism for abuse and stronger understanding of how to respond when technology-facilitated abuse occurs. [dfsvc.gov.au]
Domestic and family violence responses should not sit separately from discussions about information security, privacy and employee safety.
The strongest workplace responses recognise all three are connected.
Because supporting an employee is not just about what we say.
It's also about how we protect their information, respect their privacy and minimise unnecessary risks.
A question for leaders
If an employee experiencing domestic and family violence disclosed concerns about being monitored, tracked or contacted through technology, would your organisation know how to respond?
For many workplaces, this is still an emerging challenge.
But as technology becomes increasingly embedded in our lives, it is also becoming a more significant part of domestic and family violence responses.
The organisations best prepared for the future will be the ones that recognise safety is no longer just physical.
It's digital too.
At Challenge DV, we often talk about creating safer workplaces and safer communities.
As technology becomes increasingly embedded in our lives, supporting employees means understanding not only the risks we can see, but also the ones that exist behind screens, devices and digital systems.
Because recognising risk is only the beginning.
Being ready to respond is what creates safer workplaces.
Find out more
Challenge DV offers programs and services that ensure your organisation is not just compliant, but truly equipped to recognise, respond and refer when DFV shows up at work.
Get a quick training quote or contact me, Lizzy Edwards, Corporate Solutions Manager, to find out how we can work together: lizzy@challengedv.org
Article sources:
Tech-based domestic and family violence, Australian eSafety Commissioner. The eSafety Commissioner notes that the majority of women experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence experience part of that violence online or through digital technology. [esafety.gov.au]
Technology-facilitated abuse, Australian eSafety Commissioner. Technology-facilitated abuse includes harassment, threats, stalking, coercive and controlling behaviours carried out through digital technologies. [esafety.gov.au]
Technology-facilitated coercive control, Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), 2023. This resource outlines how technology can be used to monitor, stalk, control and harass current or former partners as part of coercive control. [aifs.gov.au]
Technology Facilitated Abuse Roundtable Summary Report, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission and eSafety Commissioner, 2024. The report highlights the need for greater awareness and understanding of technology as a mechanism for abuse and the importance of strengthening responses. [dfsvc.gov.au]
