The SafeWork Advantage Podcast

April Hardy
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  • MANAGEMENT

We help HR Professionals, Managers, and Business Leaders create safer, more supportive workplaces for employees facing domestic violence.  Hosted by April Hardy - a survivor, advocate, and founder of In Case i'm Murdered, LLC - this show is where compassion meets compliance and safety meets strategy.

Episodes

  1. 12H AGO

    Episode 7: When Domestic Violence Comes to Work—Understanding Spillover Risk

    Domestic violence doesn’t always stay at home. When it spills into the workplace, it can look like nonstop calls and emails, a surprise visit to the lobby, a threat in the parking lot, or sabotage that quietly wrecks someone’s ability to do their job. I’m April Hardy, a survivor and advocate, and I’m walking you through what “spillover risk” really means and why it’s a workplace safety issue, not just a personal problem. We break down five common spillover patterns employers need to recognize: communication harassment, physical intrusion, sabotage, threats to coworkers or management, and workplace violence. You’ll also hear why tragedies often follow recognizable warning signs like stalking and escalation, plus the real-world gap that shows up when organizations only respond after something goes wrong. I share key domestic violence statistics that matter for HR, managers, and business leaders, and why underreporting and fear of disclosure mean the true risk is often higher than your data suggests. I also share personal experience of how abuse destabilizes employment through forced moves, childcare barriers, and threats that hit during the workday, because trauma doesn’t clock out when a shift starts. Then we get practical: the mistakes to avoid, what a strong domestic violence workplace policy can include, how to set up confidential reporting, visitor management, manager training, emergency planning, and physical security measures like access control and lighting. We close with a case study where a hospital’s safety plan helps prevent harm when an abuser shows up. Download the free workplace safety checklist at IncasImurdered.com/safe work, and if you want deeper support, learn about the Safe Work Advantage program. Subscribe, share this with a leader in your network, and leave a review so more workplaces can build prevention before a crisis hits. Is there a topic you'd like me to cover? Let me know!

    13 min

  2. APR 1

    Episode 6: Why "Just Leave" Isn't the Answer—and What Employers Should Know

    “Why doesn’t she just leave?” sounds like common sense until you understand what leaving can trigger. We sit with the reality that separation is often the most dangerous phase of domestic violence, and we unpack why a survivor might stay, return, or delay leaving while still doing everything possible to protect herself and her kids.  In this episode, I share some of my own story, translating lived experience into clear guidance for HR professionals, managers, and business leaders. We talk through the biggest barriers that keep people trapped:  safety risks and escalation child custody threats financial abuse isolation and gaslightinglegal and housing hurdles Your workplace matters more than you might know!  A job can be the one stable lifeline: income, healthcare, structure, and the only safe place to breathe for a domestic violence victim.  Quiet, confidential support like flexible leave, visible resources, and Employee Assistance Program access, without forced disclosure, can help someone safety plan and exit on a timeline that reduces risk. If you want stronger domestic violence workplace policies, a more trauma-informed HR approach, and practical steps that balance compassion with compliance, listen now.  Subscribe, share with someone in your network, and leave a review so more leaders learn how to respond with safety first. Is there a topic you'd like me to cover? Let me know!

    11 min

  3. MAR 17

    Episode 5: Why Employees Don’t Disclose Abuse—And What to Do About It

    Most bosses assume that if an employee were being abused at home, they would tell someone at work. The uncomfortable reality is that silence is often the safest option in a survivor’s mind and it is fueled by real workplace risks like lost income, stigma, retaliation, and fear that HR will not believe them or will document them in a way that backfires later.  In this episode:  I walk through the most common barriers to domestic violence disclosure in the workplace I share my personal experience with this, as an employee and as a bossYou will hear two powerful workplace stories: Rachel, whose lateness masked coercive control and sabotage, and Jordan, who was protected because her employer had a clear domestic violence policy and a swift safety responsesWe end with practical, trauma-informed strategies for HR professionals and managers.  If you lead people, this will change how you interpret “performance issues” that might actually be warning signs.  If you want a safer, more supportive workplace culture that balances compassion, compliance, and employee safety: listen, subscribe, share this with your HR network.  I would appreciate a review so more leaders find these tools as well! Is there a topic you'd like me to cover? Let me know!

    9 min

  4. MAR 3

    Episode 4 - The Hidden Costs of Domestic Violence at Work

    What if the biggest drag on your team’s performance isn’t a skills gap but a safety gap? We pull back the curtain on the hidden costs of domestic violence at work—lost productivity, turnover, rising healthcare claims, liability exposure, and a brand hit that repels top talent—and turn it into a practical, human‑centered plan leaders can use right away. Drawing from April’s lived experience as both a survivor and a business owner, we connect the dots between compassion and compliance. You’ll hear how abuse shows up at work through missed shifts, anxiety, and stalking, and why structure alone doesn’t equal safety. We break down five core cost drivers so you can prioritize action where it matters: absenteeism and presenteeism, turnover, healthcare costs, safety and liability, and reputation risk. Then we move from theory to practice with Carmen’s story—a strong manager pushed out by on‑site harassment—and show exactly how resources, a safety plan, and trained managers could have kept her on the team. To help you act fast, we outline three concrete steps: offer private, on‑demand resources without requiring disclosure; implement a clear domestic violence workplace policy; and equip managers with trauma‑informed language and discretion. We also flag two pitfalls to avoid—leaning only on EAPs and assuming “it’s rare here”—and explain why a simple, well‑communicated policy reduces legal risk while raising morale. If you’re ready to protect people and profit, grab our free customizable policy template at encaseimurdered.com/safe work and start today. If this conversation helped, subscribe, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review. Your feedback helps more leaders build workplaces where safety, dignity, and performance thrive together. Is there a topic you'd like me to cover? Let me know!

    9 min

  5. FEB 10

    Episode 3 - Why Domestic Violence Is a Workplace Safety Issue

    Work is predictable—and that predictability can put survivors of domestic violence in harm’s way. We unpack why homicide remains the leading cause of workplace death for women, how abusers exploit schedules, parking routines, and public staff listings, and what leaders can do to transform policy into real readiness. Drawing from lived experience and frontline examples, we trace the hard truth: when survivors gain independence, including by going to work, abusers often escalate, turning lobbies, stairwells, and parking lots into targets if employers are unprepared. We walk through the numbers that matter for HR, safety teams, and managers: the prevalence of partner-perpetrated workplace homicides, the scale of stalking, and the unintended exposure that protection orders can create by listing workplace addresses. Then we shift to action. You’ll hear how a dental office prevented a potential attack because staff had been briefed, knew how to stall, and called security fast—proof that training, not just paperwork, saves lives. From there, we lay out a practical path, highlight the two big mistakes to avoid, and explain why calling police, cannot be what you depend on. Any organization can close dangerous gaps without slowing business.  We'll keep showing you how! If you lead HR, run security, or manage a team, this conversation gives you the tools to protect your people where risk is most likely to show up.  Subscribe, share this with a colleague who owns safety planning, and grab the workplace safety checklist at incasemurdered.com/safework to spot and fix gaps today! Is there a topic you'd like me to cover? Let me know!

    8 min

  6. JAN 27

    Episode 2 - 5 Signs an Employee Might be Facing Abuse at Home

    What if the quiet shift in a teammate’s behavior isn’t burnout, but a safety alarm no one was trained to hear? We dive into five workplace signals that often indicate domestic abuse and show how leaders can respond with compassion and clarity—without forcing disclosure or crossing lines. Drawing on lived experience and the real-world case of Lisa, a receptionist whose “small mistakes” foreshadowed a crisis, we break down what to watch for, why it matters, and how to act before harm escalates. We unpack the patterns: visible injuries paired with repeating odd explanations, performance dips from hypervigilance and sleep loss, phones that never stop buzzing, anxious withdrawal from coworkers, and attendance disruptions linked to chaos at home. You’ll hear practical guidance for HR and managers on documenting behavior neutrally, separating performance conversations from personal judgment, and building trust through simple, trauma-informed language. We also confront two costly myths—“it’s not our business” and “we’ll wait for disclosure”—and replace them with steps that protect people and productivity. To make support accessible, we highlight confidential, self-paced resources employees can use privately, including safety planning that doesn’t require HR involvement. We share policy essentials, training tips, and culture cues that turn care into a system rather than a guess. By the end, you’ll be ready to recognize silent alarms, reduce stigma, and make help easy to reach. Subscribe, share with a colleague who leads people, and leave a review telling us what change you’ll make at work this week. Is there a topic you'd like me to cover? Let me know!

    8 min

  7. JAN 13

    Episode 1 - How Domestic Violence Follows Employees to Work—and What HR Can Do

    We expose how domestic violence follows employees to work, why the workplace becomes a predictable point of risk, and what HR can do today. We share stories, data, and a simple plan to recognize signs, offer private resources, and build a culture of safety without forcing disclosure. • Why domestic violence shows up at work • Warning signs managers can spot early • The costs of abuse for employers and the self‑employed • Key data from CDC and OSHA on risk and liability • 3 practical steps to create safety • How to offer confidential resources without disclosure • Building empathy into manager training and culture • Introduction to Safe Work Advantage and how it works • Where to download the employer overview packet For free tools, templates, and workplace resources, visit incasimurdered.com/safework.   If you're ready to take the next step, you can download the FREE Employer Overview Packet there too! Is there a topic you'd like me to cover? Let me know!

    9 min

  8. JAN 6

    The SafeWork Advantage Podcast Trailer - Safe Work Starts Here

    A 911 dispatcher once helping others escape danger while living in danger herself, April Hardy brings a rare, dual‑lens view to the real cost of domestic violence at work—and the practical steps leaders can take to stop harm before it reaches the headlines. As a crime victim advocate trained by NOVA and founder of In Case I Murdered, April shares how abuse derailed seven jobs and how those hard lessons shaped a clear, trauma‑informed playbook for HR and business leaders. We break down the signals already hiding in plain sight—attendance spikes, turnover patterns, parking lot incidents—and translate them into concrete actions. You’ll learn how to write a policy that explicitly names domestic violence, set up confidential reporting outside the supervisory chain, and coordinate with security on visitor protocols, escorts, and badge controls. We also map the legal landscape, from OSHA’s general duty to state protections and FMLA, so you can protect people while reducing organizational risk. Throughout, we focus on tools any manager can use: empathetic scripts, documentation checklists, flexible scheduling, and safety planning that reduces predictability an abuser can exploit. The heart of the conversation is culture. Leaders don’t need clinical training to change outcomes; they need clarity, consistency, and a plan. When employees know help won’t cost them their jobs, they speak up sooner—and that’s when prevention works. Expect short, commute‑friendly episodes that turn awareness into action and keep your workplace safe, seen, and supported. Subscribe for new insights every other Tuesday morning, and grab the free Workplace Domestic Violence Preparedness Checklist at incaseimurdered.com/safework.  If you see value here, share it with your security team or HR peers and leave a review so more leaders can protect what matters most! Is there a topic you'd like me to cover? Let me know!

    2 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

We help HR Professionals, Managers, and Business Leaders create safer, more supportive workplaces for employees facing domestic violence.  Hosted by April Hardy - a survivor, advocate, and founder of In Case i'm Murdered, LLC - this show is where compassion meets compliance and safety meets strategy.

Information

  • Creator
    April Hardy
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The SafeWork Advantage Podcast
  • Show Website
    The SafeWork Advantage Podcast