The First and Only U.S. Organization Dedicated Entirely to Empowering Employers to Act

Employers Against Domestic Abuse Alliance: Where employers become allies.

The Alliance is not a general domestic abuse nonprofit. We are the only U.S. organization singularly focused on giving employers the programs, training, accreditation, and a peer community they need to become genuine allies for their employees.

Our members don’t just attend a training. They build a truly Safe Place Workplace

What Is Domestic Abuse?

Domestic abuse is a pattern of behaviors used by one person within an intimate or family relationship to gain or maintain power and control over another, through physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, economic, technological, or controlling actions or threats.

At its core, domestic abuse is about control. Understanding the definition of coercive control is the first step in awareness education provided by The Alliance, followed by definitions of both physical and non-physical forms of abuse.

Click below to learn more.

Coercive Control

Coercive control is not a single incident but a sustained course of conduct designed to gain and maintain power over another person over time. It typically involves psychological, emotional, and economic tactics (and sometimes physical or sexual abuse) that isolate the victim, make them dependent, and regulate their everyday life. Statutory and policy guidance often define it as “an intentional pattern of behaviour which takes place over time, in order for one individual to exert power, control or coercion over another.”

Forms of Non-Physical Domestic Abuse

Non-physical domestic abuse includes any pattern of controlling, degrading, or harmful behavior that does not rely on hitting or other physical force, but still frightens, undermines, or limits a partner’s freedom.

Emotional abuse – belittling, name-calling, constant criticism, humiliation, shaming, or withdrawing affection to punish or control.
Psychological abuse – gaslighting, mind games, making someone doubt their reality or sanity, using threats, intimidation, and stalking or monitoring to create fear.
Verbal abuse – yelling, swearing, insults, put-downs, sarcastic mockery, and ongoing negative comments aimed at breaking down confidence.
Coercive control – a course of controlling behaviors (isolation, surveillance, rules, deprivation, financial control) that systematically restricts a person’s liberty and autonomy.
Financial/economic abuse – controlling access to money, preventing or sabotaging employment, using a partner’s earnings, forcing debts, or giving only a small “allowance.”
Social abuse/isolation – cutting off or limiting contact with friends, family, coworkers, faith community, or online networks; damaging reputation or publicly embarrassing the victim.
Sexual coercion (non-physical force) – pressuring, manipulating, or guilting someone into sex or sexual acts they do not want; using sex or affection as reward/punishment or to control decisions (including around contraception or pregnancy).
Spiritual or religious abuse – misusing religious beliefs or practices to demand obedience, justify control, shame the victim, or control participation in spiritual communities.
Threats and intimidation – threatening harm to the victim, children, pets, or self; destroying property; using looks, gestures, or behavior that keeps the victim in fear.
Manipulation of dependency – deliberately undermining confidence, independence, or access to resources so the victim feels unable to cope or survive without the abuser.
Abuse through children (including parental alienation) – turning children against the other parent, using them as messengers or leverage, or undermining the victim’s relationship with the children.

Physical Abuse

Physical domestic abuse refers to any use of physical force or actions that cause, or are intended to cause, pain, injury, fear, or bodily harm to a partner or family member.

Common forms of physical domestic abuse

Hitting, slapping, and punching – striking the victim with hands or fists, including blows to the face, head, torso, or limbs.
Kicking and stomping – using feet to kick, stomp, or trample the victim, sometimes when they are already on the ground.
Pushing, shoving, and dragging – forcibly moving the victim, including pushing them into walls or furniture, dragging them by the arms or clothing, or knocking them down.
Grabbing, twisting, and restraining – grabbing arms, wrists, fingers, clothing, or hair; bending or twisting limbs; holding the victim down or pinning them in place against their will.
Hair pulling – yanking, pulling, or dragging the victim by their hair to cause pain or exert control.
Choking/strangulation and suffocation – putting hands, arms, or objects around the neck, pressing on the throat, or restricting breathing; a high-risk, potentially lethal form of abuse even if no obvious marks remain.
Burning – using cigarettes, lighters, hot liquids, or other heat sources to burn the victim’s skin.
Biting and pinching – using teeth or fingers to inflict pain, bruising, or injury.
Throwing objects at the victim – hurling household items, furniture, or other objects to hit or scare the victim.
Assault with weapons – using or threatening to use knives, guns, blunt objects, or other weapons to injure, terrorize, or control.
Imprisonment and physical confinement – locking the victim in a room, house, basement, or car; blocking exits; preventing them from leaving or seeking help.
Forced physical endangerment – abandoning the victim in dangerous places, forcing a car off the road, driving at unsafe speeds to frighten them, or pushing them down stairs.
Deprivation of basic needs after assault – preventing sleep, food, or medical care, especially when injuries have been inflicted.
Physical abuse during pregnancy – targeting the abdomen, breasts, or body during pregnancy, which can endanger both the pregnant person and the fetus.
Animal cruelty as a physical tactic – harming or killing pets or animals to control, punish, or terrorize the victim.
Life-threatening violence – severe assaults that cause broken bones, internal injuries, disfigurement, disability, or, at the extreme, attempted murder or murder.

A note about firearms in the home.

The presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide for women by 500%. More than half of women killed by gun violence are killed by family members or intimate partners.

This Is Already Happening in Your Workplace

Domestic abuse doesn’t stay at home. It walks through your front door every morning, sits at desks, misses deadlines, and quietly costs organizations more than most leaders realize. It affects 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men, which means it is already present in every organization.

The data is clear:

83% of domestic abuse survivors report that the abuse directly impacted their ability to do their job.
53% of survivors report losing at least one job because of the violence.
50% of victims missed one or more days of work as a direct result of abuse.
27% of all workplace violence incidents are related to domestic abuse.

The primary barrier keeping survivors in abusive relationships isn’t willpower—it’s financial insecurity. Nearly 3 in 4 survivors remain in abusive situations because they cannot afford to leave. Keeping a job (and keeping it safe!) can be the single most critical factor in a victim’s path to freedom.

Employers who act don’t just improve their workplace culture. They become the turning point in someone’s story.

Join the Alliance and Take Action

What We Stand For

Our Mission

To give employers the resources, guidance, and support they need to address the effects of domestic abuse in the workplace. Through education, advocacy, and practical tools, we help organizations create safe, informed, and compassionate environments where employees affected by domestic abuse can find support and stability.

Our Vision

A future where every workplace feels like a haven from domestic abuse, where people are believed, supported, and can thrive without fear or stigma.

Our Values

Compassion: Responding to all affected employees with empathy and understanding.
Empowerment: Giving both employers and employees the resources to take positive, informed action.
Advocacy: Championing the rights and well-being of employees affected by domestic abuse.
Collaboration: Building partnerships within and beyond the workplace to achieve shared goals.
Innovation: Continuously seeking better strategies and tools to address the effects of domestic abuse at work.

Founded by a Woman Who Understands Both Sides of the Desk

Mollie Campbell is a domestic abuse survivor, a 30-year HR professional, and the founder of The Alliance. She spent eight years in an abusive marriage and decades in human resources watching organizations struggle to respond to the very thing she had lived through.

That combination of lived experience and professional expertise is what makes The Alliance different. Mollie didn’t just see a gap—she understood exactly why it existed, what it cost employees and employers alike, and what it would take to close it.

The Alliance is built on the belief that employers are uniquely positioned to be heroes in their employees’ lives — and that most of them simply need the right tools to show up that way.

The Cornerstone of Everything We Do: The Safe Place Workplace Program

The Safe Place Workplace Program is the framework at the heart of The Alliance. We work directly with employers to implement training, provide practical resources, and remove the barriers that prevent employees experiencing domestic abuse from getting the help they need.

Organizations that complete the program can earn our Safe Place Workplace Accreditation, a public signal to employees, customers, and the community that your organization takes domestic abuse awareness and education seriously.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or strengthening existing policies, we have resources for employers of every size, including free tools available to any organization ready to take the first step.

Learn About the Program

Start Where You Are.
Grow From There.

Becoming an Alliance member means joining a community of employers who have decided that doing right by their people is non-negotiable. Our three membership tiers are designed to scale with your organization’s readiness, giving you resources, recognition, and support at every level.

Advocate Member | Free

Access foundational resources, including a free toolkit with policy template, awareness content, and a digital membership badge, to begin building a safer workplace at no cost.

Impact Partner – Contact Us for Pricing

Receive training for your HR team, managers, and all-staff, plus peer learning opportunities, event discounts, and the chance to showcase your organization’s leadership within The Alliance’s community.

Champion Employer — Contact Us for Pricing

Our most comprehensive membership tier. Includes dedicated support from The Alliance’s team, a customized Safe Place Workplace Program implementation, a workplace culture assessment, individualized policy development, and exclusive access to Mastermind retreats with fellow Champion Employers.

Explore Full Membership Details

Your Workplace Can Be the Turning Point.

Join a growing community of forward-thinking employers who have decided that safety isn’t just a mission statement. It’s a practice. When you remove the barriers standing between your employees and the help they need, you don’t just strengthen your workplace. You may save a life.

Become a Member