Employee Essential Needs: Personal Safety and Domestic Violence

Make Your Meetings More Active

  • Include items on your meeting agenda that require participants to get out of their seats (breakout groups, stand and write ideas on an easel).
  • Choose movement friendly meeting locations (walkable neighborhoods, on-site gym, nearby park).
  • Hire a professional instructor (pilates, yoga, tai chi, stretching, Zumba) to lead a class before or during the meeting.
  • Point out the stairs and encourage attendees to use them. Consider including the location of stairs in meeting directions or putting arrows to the stairs in front of elevators.
  • Organize a group walk early in the morning, during a break or before/after dinner.
  • Consider incorporating standing ovations after each speaker to encourage participants to stand and stretch.

Standing Breaks

  • At least once an hour, participants should be encouraged to stand up to improve blood circulation, boost metabolism, and relieve physical discomfort from sitting for prolonged periods of time.
  • Announce that it is fine to stand up and move around, as needed. If possible, provide raised tables for those electing to stand during the meeting.

Stretch Breaks

  • Stretch breaks help participants wake up their bodies and minds.
  • Encourage people to stand up and stretch in place.
  • Try playing a Healthy UC Davis WakeBreak video! These instructor-led stretch videos range from 4 to 15 minutes. 

Breathing Exercise

  • Focused breathing is an energizing activity that can help relax and clear your mind. Simply inhale for four seconds, hold it for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds.

Suggested Activity Agendas

LENGTH OF MEETINGSTANDING BREAKSTRETCH BREAKSBREATHING BREAKSMOVEMENT BREAKSWALKING BREAKS
50 - 60 minx x  
2 - 4 hoursxxxx 
All Dayxxxxx

Resources to help support employees with their safety and or employees who may be experiencing domestic violence. 

Emergency Numbers

Dial 9-1-1 only to report a crime in progress or a life-threatening emergency

Cell phone users reporting emergencies may dial:

  • 530-758-3600
  • 530-756-3400

For non-emergency requests for Police or Fire assistance, please call 530-747-5400 


Find domestic violence organizations in your community, including hotline numbers and websites 


List of crisis text and phone lines, as well as nearby hospitals 


Provides technical assistance, consultations, and resource development to survivors charged with crimes, members of their defense teams, and other individuals and organizations 


Emergency shelter located in Sacramento serving Asian and Pacific Islander and other underserved women and children impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking 


Call 1-800-799-SAFE(7233) or text “START” to 88788 to reach a highly trained, expert advocate for 24/7/365 support, crisis intervention information, education, and referral services

Offers a directory of assistance providers that can be sorted by location and services 


Call 1-800-656-HOPE(4673) 


Victim notification network that allows survivors, victims of crime, and other concerned citizens to access timely and reliable information about offenders or criminal cases in U.S. jails and prisons