"Today's launch is the first step in the implementation of recommendations prepared through community consultations by the Premier's Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention," says Premier Binns. "Women and men who experience violence may use the workplace as an escape from the violence. This program is designed to increase awareness about what family violence is, what each of us can do, and where to go for help."

Violence intrudes on the workplace in a number of ways. Violence can occur at work in the form of abuse or sexual harassment by co-workers, bosses, supervisors, clients or customers. Violence within the home can also affect the workplace. At work, there is absenteeism, loss of concentration, fatigue, emotional instability and reliance on medications and alcohol, all of which contribute to decreased productivity.

"People who abuse and people who are abused are in our workplaces," says Marion Reid, chair of the Premier's Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention. "Abuse prevention is a workplace issue, and it is no longer acceptable to stay silent about the effects of violence on the workplace."

The Workplace Safety Program includes a number of materials designed to be used by employers. They can be distributed in their current form, incorporated into existing documents on workplace safety, included in information on employee assistance programs, or put on workplace bulletin boards or newsletters. The posters and stickers are specially designed to be placed in washrooms.

The Workplace Safety Program is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty, Occupational Health and Safety Branch of the Workers Compensation Board of PEI, Transition House Association, Gemini Screen Print and the Premier's Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention.

The information packages will be distributed to all workplaces across Prince Edward Island. For additional packages please contact Island Information Service at 368-4000 or island@gov.pe.ca, 11 Kent Street.

The Premier's Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention is a joint committee of the Premier's Office, the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Health and Social Services, the Department of Education, the Interministerial Women's Secretariat and 18 community-based organizations.