The impact is complex

The impact is complex, and cuts across many environments, often leading to years of debilitating economic and social conditions.

Self-esteem

It is common to feel exploited, depressed, distressed, embarrassed, angry and stupid. Shame, fear, low self-worth and self-belief can lead to physical and mental health issues.

Anxiety about financial matters is also a problem – excessively worrying about overspending, long after a relationship has ended. Confidence to rebuild a future, have trust and navigate new relationships is significantly diminished.

Social isolation

The need for support can increase dependence on family and services, often causing fragmented relationships. Personal safety can also be compromised, requiring a move to a new area, away from local supports. 

Credit and debt

Economic harm can cause excessive debt and a damaged credit history that lessens one’s ability to meet basic needs and can lead to homelessness.

Employment

Remaining in or obtaining new employment can also be impacted by the lack of resources, or poor credit history. It can also be affected by a partner or ex-partner’s interference.

Legal system 

Legal and other financial challenges around child support, access, and ongoing court costs can also be debilitating both financially and emotionally, and can continue long into the future. 

Lack of choice  

Any decisions that are made when people are in ‘survival mode’ can lead to consequences such as even more debt, recordable offences or criminal charges, which can influence or restrict future choices.

Impact on other employees

When an employee is experiencing economic harm, there is likely to be a flow-on effect that could impact your other staff members or teams.

If productivity is affected, colleagues can be left feeling frustrated, concerned, or may even display strong emotional responses. Depending on how these experiences are expressed, workplace relationships and culture can also be impacted – for better or worse.

The social element of work relationships can also lead to a level of personal distress for some people. There may be a feeling of responsibility to step in, support their colleague or fix their problem. For others, it could trigger old or current feelings relating to their own experience of violence or trauma.

By providing information to all employees about family violence, employee rights, and internal or external pathways for support – some of these points can be addressed.

Impact on children

In families where harm is occurring, it is often hoped that children are protected by not seeing or hearing what’s happening. 

There are, however, psychological, emotional, environmental and economic factors associated with harm that can have a significantly negative impact. Children’s basic and developmental needs can be disrupted or limited, along with their social and educational opportunities, due to lack of access to finances. 

Parents or caregivers can become emotionally unavailable, and children may need to negotiate issues that occur at home. They can be left feeling responsible, confused and isolated. 

Their confidence and self-esteem can become eroded, impacting their overall wellbeing and psychological recovery. In the long term, economic harm can negatively affect a child’s mental wellbeing, and lead to social or behavioural issues, depending on their age, the level of harm and the length of exposure.