Integrity

Building an ecosystem of support for domestic violence survivors

Allstate is helping employees support customers, strengthening resources for its workforce and equipping other businesses to create survivor-supportive workplaces.

The mention of a broken door was an unexpected revelation for Amanda N.

She had taken Allstate's domestic violence course, a series of training videos developed by The Allstate Foundation and the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The course was designed to help insurance professionals recognize and respond to signs of domestic violence when they're visiting or speaking with customers.

For Amanda, a claims consultant for Allstate's National Catastrophe Team and a survivor of domestic violence, the course was also personal.

"When I was listening to the training, it called out some things that I didn't even realize were part of my own abuse," Amanda said.

In one video, instructors recommend checking for damage that seems unrelated to a customer's claim, such as holes in walls or broken doors. These can be indications of domestic violence.

Amanda had found herself in that exact situation a few years earlier. When an insurance adjuster stopped by for an unrelated homeowners claim, the adjuster asked why a patio door had been removed. Amanda made an excuse.

"I didn't realize that this could have been the type of sign an insurance adjuster could have looked for to realize that I might be experiencing domestic violence," Amanda said.

Beyond helping employees recognize signs of abuse, the training offers guidance on responding with compassion, approaching the topic and sharing resources in real time. Employees can provide customers with information about the National Domestic Violence Hotline when appropriate.

The need is significant: One in four women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime in the United States.

"Domestic violence can be difficult to recognize and talk about," said Sharisse Kimbro, The Allstate Foundation's Relationship Abuse Program Senior Manager. "We're helping our employees navigate those conversations and share resources that enable survivors to take care of themselves."

At the 2025 Forbes Power Women's Summit, The Allstate Foundation senior manager discussed domestic violence and the workplace, and the role employers play in supporting survivor safety.

Supporting Allstate employees

Survivors are our employees and colleagues, too. Domestic violence can affect every part of a person's life, including their ability to be their best at work, making survivor support an important part of creating a strong, supportive workplace.

Eight million workdays are lost due to domestic violence annually, the equivalent of 32,000 full-time jobs. Financial abuse is present in nearly every instance of domestic violence, which can include withholding or hiding money. The lack of access to financial resources is the No. 1 barrier to survivor safety, and the median amount of money survivors report they alone can access is $175.50, according to FreeFrom's Support Every Survivor report.

"If they're not able to address these issues that are happening in their lives, then how are they going to be able to come to work and be present?" said Sarai Hernandez, Workforce Relations Director. "We have to ensure that we're offering resources, benefits and accommodations for employees."

As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Allstate employees participate in a Sprint and Stride 5k event.

Survivors helped shape the resource, including Allstate employees who shared what would have helped them during a crisis. One Allstate employee said having access to money her abusive partner didn't know about helped her reach safety. That insight informed paycheck flexibility, which allows employees to split earnings across multiple accounts.

"We wanted to center the employee in every element of the resource design, making it easy to understand what support is available and ensuring there was a single, confidential point of contact so someone experiencing domestic violence wouldn't have to repeat their situation over and over, which can be re-traumatizing," Sharisse said.

The foundation also consulted nonprofit partners including FreeFrom, the National Domestic Violence Hotline and Futures Without Violence, which have researched survivors' experiences at work and created model workplace resource programs.

Helping other employers take action

The Allstate Foundation's work extends beyond the Allstate workforce. The Foundation founded the Survivor Empowerment Network (SEN), which helps employers understand how workplaces can support survivors.

Nearly all domestic violence survivors also endure financial abuse. Employers have a powerful opportunity to create a place of safety and support for survivors. The Survivor Empowerment Network gives businesses access to resources, timely programming and a community of organizations learning how simple changes can have a profound impact.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Employers can start by reviewing current policies, practices and benefits to identify what can be enhanced to better support survivors and uncover unintentional barriers preventing them from success at work.

Actions can include domestic violence training, workplace accommodations and safety planning, pay advancement, paycheck flexibility, mental health support, a confidential reporting structure and connections with external support organizations.

By supporting customers, employees and other employers, Allstate is working to create a support system for survivors and meaningful pathways toward greater safety, financial freedom and dignity.

Supporting a survivor doesn't mean you need all the answers, Sharisse said.

"The most important thing you can do for a survivor is listen and believe them," she said. "Survivors are the experts in their own stories, in their own lives. They often just need a compassionate ear and someone to point them in the direction of help."