This article contains information about domestic violence and gun violence. If you or someone you know has been assaulted, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 for free, 24/7 support. 

MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin woman has made it her mission to provide comprehensive domestic violence resources through victims’ workplaces. 

Brandie de la Rosa is a survivor of domestic violence. When she was working in the tech industry, she went to the company's human resources department for help. 

“HR is great, but they can only do so much,” she said. “They provided a pamphlet. As a survivor, you cannot go home with that. They gave an 800 number. You're not sure what to say to a stranger that lives potentially in another state, right? I didn't know what to do. I felt even more lost.” 

She ended up getting herself to safety. After that, she knew she was ready for another big life change. She started E3inspire. 

“The E3 actually stands for educate, empower, engage,” she said. “For me, it was ‘What did I need back when I was going through it?’” 

Her clients are companies, which hire E3 for some training, but also as a domestic violence HR provider. If they have an employee who’s being victimized, they call E3 and de la Rosa can take it from there. She provides all kinds of resources for that person. 

“We help them move; we help them get furniture. We help them with whatever extra resources they should need— counseling, things like that,” de la Rosa said. 

She helps educate employers on how trauma can impact their staff. She can help arrange for time off, so they don’t miss work and risk being fired. 

Nearly every business, every shop, every employer likely has staff at risk.

“If you have, for example, a company of 300 to 500 employees. One in four females are assaulted, one in seven men. So you just count your employees,” she said. “It's basically like a ticking time bomb.” 

She said it helps the businesses, too: Someone who’s being abused isn’t going to be performing well at work. Getting them to safety is good for a company’s bottom line, and of course, for the employee. 

Plus, having a staff member victimized can put the entire workplace in danger. 

There was the Azana spa shooting in Brookfield in 2012, where three people were killed in a domestic violence-related mass shooting. In 2017, the Weston shooting spree left four people dead. A man was targeting his wife, and ended up killing her lawyer, a police officer and two of her coworkers. 

“There’s case after case after case,” de la Rosa said. “In the state of Wisconsin alone, there are several cases of businesses that unfortunately, there were some mass shootings that have occurred from partners coming in.” 

Having a safe space and access to those resources at work can make a huge difference. de la Rosa said one person in particular has never left her thoughts. 

“They were living basically one step up from homelessness. They didn't have any furniture, anything like that. The only time they ever ate was at work … because all of their funds were being consumed for legal fees,” she said. “We came in and were able to furnish everything, including picture frames, rugs, so it just looked like everything was ready to move. The person was super grateful; their children were just immensely happy.” 

The leadership at that client’s company was thrilled to see them get a new start. 

“In coordinating with the employer, and they saw how that was the employee went back to work. And they were able to do some extra benefits around that specific employee,” she said. “[The staff member felt] like they had somebody in their corner to help them fight this fight.” 

It’s become de la Rosa’s life’s work to help people get to safety, and have employers support them along the way. 

“They perform better, they're also safe … it's a win-win for everyone.” 

She’s speaking on a panel called Wellness Tips for the Busy Entrepreneur as part of Forward Fest on Monday, August 16 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.