Workplace violence is defined as “the threat or exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker”. The law’s definition of “violence at work” also includes domestic abuse that affects the workplace.

The law provides employees with the right to work in a safe and healthy workplace, free from any kind of abuse. If your employer becomes aware, or ought reasonably to be aware, of violence in the workplace, including domestic violence that could likely expose a worker to physical injury in the workplace, your employer must take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect the employee.

In short, your employer must have policies in place for preventing such behavior. Your employer could be liable if they do not have a violence prevention policy in place, or if they do not take reasonable steps to prevent violence in the workplace.