Sally Goldfarb advised the United Nations on a policy for workplace violence.

CAMDEN — Domestic violence isn’t just something that
happens at home. It can also become prevalent in the workplace as some two million
American workers are victims of workplace violence each year.

“Domestic or sexual violence can be committed in the
workplace itself, or its effects can spill over into the workplace,” says Sally
Goldfarb, a professor of law at the Rutgers School of Law–Camden.

Goldfarb, who has written widely on domestic violence,
recently was called upon to advise the United Nations on establishing its
workplace policy concerning gender-based violence. Goldfarb spent two days
meeting with U.N. officials in New York City to create a policy designed to
prevent violence, hold perpetrators accountable, and protect the rights of
victims.

“U.N. Women, the entity within the United Nations that
works on women's issues, wants to create a strong policy for United Nations
employees,” Goldfarb says. “Because the U.N. is an international body, its
employees are not covered by state or federal laws that grant rights to
workers. They are only covered by United Nations policy, so it's important that
the policy fully protect the employees’ rights.”

Workplace violence is any act or threat of physical
violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior
that occurs at a work site, according to the United States Department of Labor.
It can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults, and can affect
employees, clients, customers, and visitors just as any other workplace health
and safety issue.

Goldfarb says employers can protect their workers by
creating workplace violence awareness and prevention programs, giving crime
victims time off to get legal or medical help, helping workers enforce
restraining orders, adopting a policy of non-discrimination against victims,
and disciplining or discharging employees who commit acts of violence.

“All employers should be aware of the impact of
gender-based violence on their employees and should take steps to address this
issue,” she says. “A good policy can help protect workers and enhance the
productivity and safety of the workplace.”

Goldfarb previously advised the United Nations Division
for the Advancement of Women (a predecessor of U.N. Women) on how countries
should design and enforce their laws on domestic violence, sexual assault, and
other forms of gender-based violence. She assisted in drafting two U.N. reports
concerning violence against women.

The Rutgers–Camden law scholar has
participated in numerous academic symposia on the Violence Against Women Act,
women's legal rights, same-sex marriage, and the impact of disasters on women
and families. She has served on a number of boards and commissions, including
the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Women in the Courts.

Goldfarb teaches courses in family law,
sex discrimination, and torts at the Rutgers School of Law–Camden. She
received her undergraduate and law degrees from Yale University.

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