When Abuse Shows Up at Work: Texas Advocacy Project on Red Flags and How to Help

Domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, and coercive control can affect far more than someone’s private life. These issues can follow survivors into the workplace, school, professional settings, and other spaces where coworkers, supervisors, educators, employers, and licensed professionals may notice that something is wrong. In this episode of Know Your Regulator, Cimone Murphree is joined by Bronwyn Blake, Chief Legal Officer of Texas Advocacy Project, to discuss how abuse can show up at work and what professionals should understand before trying to help. Texas Advocacy Project is a free nonprofit law firm serving survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, and human trafficking across Texas. Bronwyn explains how abuse may affect someone’s attendance, communication, safety, job stability, finances, housing, and ability to function in professional environments. The conversation covers common red flags, how to respond when someone discloses abuse, why “just leave” is not a helpful response, and how survivors may be navigating safety concerns, financial barriers, children, housing, fear, and retaliation all at once. Bronwyn also explains Texas Advocacy Project’s mission, details their free and confidential legal services, and explains how organizations can request training or get involved. This episode is especially helpful for licensed professionals, employers, supervisors, educators, coworkers, healthcare workers, public servants, and anyone who may encounter signs of abuse in a professional setting. If you or someone you know needs help, call the Texas Advocacy Project’s legal line for survivors at 1-800-374-HOPE. ____________________ Visit the resources mentioned: Texas Advocacy Project Website: https://www.texasadvocacyproject.org/ Texas Advocacy Project General Contact: [email protected] Texas Advocacy Project Trainings and Outreach: https://www.texasadvocacyproject.org/... Handbags & Backpacks for Hope: https://www.texasadvocacyproject.org/... "50 Obstacles to Leaving, a.k.a, Why Abuse Victims Stay" by Prof. Sarah Buel: https://www.researchgate.net/publicat... ____________________ About the guest: Bronwyn Blake, UT Law ’05, is the Chief Legal Officer of the Texas Advocacy Project and the Founder of their Teen Justice Initiative, a program that advocates for teen victims of dating violence. Blake was awarded the first UT Faculty Fellowship in Public Interest Law from the William Wayne Justice Center to start this valuable work. In 2016, Blake was awarded the Texas Access to Justice Commission’s James B. Sales Boots on the Ground Award for her legal services work. She is also a graduate of Leadership Austin’s Emerge Program for young leaders and the former President of the Young Women’s Alliance, a professional organization in Austin, Texas. She has served as an officer on the board of Girlstart, an organization that empowers girls in science, technology, engineering, and math. She is an adjunct professor at UT Law teaching “Domestic Violence and the Law.” ____________________ Topics Covered: Chapters 00:00 Legal Disclaimer and Episode Purpose 00:16 When Abuse and Domestic Violence Show Up at Work 01:01 Meet Texas Advocacy Project 02:31 Domestic Violence in the Workplace 03:33 Red Flags of Abuse Coworkers May Notice 04:25 What to Say When Someone Discloses Abuse 05:36 Why “Just Leave” Can Be Harmful 07:45 What Happens When You Call Texas Advocacy Project 09:16 Domestic Violence Training and Workplace Policies 10:24 How to Support Texas Advocacy Project ____________________ Get more information, details, and resources on Know Your Regulator: https://www.belolaw.com/know-your-reg... #DomesticViolence #WorkplaceSafety #TexasAdvocacyProject #SurvivorSupport #KnowYourRegulator #BertolinoLLP