Hedda Nussbaum: Domestic Abuse Survivor, Advocate & Educator Tackles the Effect of Domestic Violence on Corporations, Workplaces Nationwide

Twenty years after the tragic death of her daughter at the hands of her own abuser, Hedda Nussbaum is bringing her personal story of abuse and recovery to the workplace, where the effects of domestic abuse are staggering.

(PRWEB) March 28, 2007 -- Twenty years after the tragic death of her daughter at the hands of her own abuser, Hedda Nussbaum is bringing her personal story of abuse and recovery to the workplace, where the effects of domestic abuse are staggering:

* A study of domestic violence survivors found that 74% of employed battered women were harassed by their partner while they were at work.*

* The annual cost of lost productivity due to domestic violence is estimated as $727.8 million, with over 7.9 million paid workdays lost each year.

* The costs of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year, $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical and mental health care services, much of which is paid for by the employer.

Nussbaum has been speaking publicly since 1995 at shelters, universities, and community programs -- discussing her experience and educating the public about the warning signs of domestic abuse and providing strategies for getting help.

She has also been a strong advocate for other battered women -- co-facilitating a support group, working as a paralegal for a domestic violence organization, writing, and teaching women how to stay out of what she calls intimate terrorism.

"While I was being abused, I often came into work exhausted, was frequently late to my job and stayed at home for days at a time when I had bruises to hide. So-called 'domestic abuse' isn't just domestic. It takes its toll on employees and companies alike," Nussbaum said.

Contact:

C.J. Lonoff

Speaking Matters LLC

www.speakingmatters.org

212-725-5547

*Source: Family Violence Prevention Fund Website

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