She wouldn’t doubt Brad’s capacity to be violent. Tanya probably took the only way out so that at least she knew she wouldn’t be subjected to repeated abuse. Of course she lost her job and would now have to look again. She is feeling vulnerable though and feels she may not trust another male employer again.

Tanya has had a terrible experience and unfortunately there are few protections for young vulnerable workers in such smaller workplaces in our communities, especially for females. In this case, Tanya opted for safety over an income. To avoid being cast as victim however, she will need to reflect and take stock of this event and understand that she was not at fault, that her actions were practical but designed to help her get on with life again.

She would also be more aware of warning signs of danger in the workplace, learned in this case by hard experience. Tanya has loving parents and two sisters who continue to support her emotionally and that is important in sustaining her resilience.