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IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
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European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)

 

Foundation findings - Physical and psychological violence at the workplace [17 September 2010]

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef1054.htm

or

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2010/54/en/1/EF1054EN.pdf

[full-text, 24 pages]

 

Author: Foundation

 

Summary: Workplace violence is a social phenomenon of a certain magnitude. Overall, approximately one in ten European workers report having experienced some form of workplace violence, either physical or psychological, in the previous 12 months. Foundation Findings provide pertinent background information and policy pointers for all actors and interested parties engaged in the current European debate on the future of social policy. The contents are based on Foundation research and reflect its autonomous and tripartite structure.

 

KEY FINDINGS

- Workplace violence is a social phenomenon of a certain magnitude. Overall, approximately

one in ten European workers report having experienced some form of workplace violence, either

physical or psychological, in the previous 12 months.

 

- Overall, levels of reported psychological violence are as high as those of physical violence.

The incidence of threats of physical violence tends to be higher than exposure to actual physical

abuse. Among types of psychological violence, bullying/harassment is more prevalent than sexual

harassment.

 

- There are marked variations in exposure to workplace violence between European

countries. On the whole, exposure to all forms of violence is greater in northern Europe while

incidence rates are lower in southern and eastern European countries. The significant country

variations of reported exposure to workplace violence may reflect different levels of awareness of

the issue and willingness to report, as well as of actual occurrence.

 

- Major differences in the incidence of workplace violence are apparent across sectors.

Exposure to all forms of violence tends to be concentrated in sectors with above average contact

with the public. The level of physical and psychological violence is particularly high in the

education and health sectors as well as in public administration.

 

- Women, particularly younger women, appear to be more subject to psychological violence

(bullying/harassment, sexual harassment) in the workplace than men. However,

circumstantial aspects of women’s work – e.g. sector, gender of boss, proportion of employees in

customer-oriented roles – should be taken into account when assessing the incidence of

workplace violence by gender.

 

- Both physical and psychological violence have serious implications for the health and wellbeing

of workers. Workers exposed to psychosocial risks report significantly higher levels of

work-related ill-health than those who do not. The most common reported symptoms are stress,

sleeping problems, anxiety and irritability.

 

- Exposure to psychological violence is correlated with higher than average rates of

absenteeism. Although psychological violence is, by its nature, more cumulative in its impact

than physical violence, its negative health effects measured in terms of absenteeism due to workrelated

ill-health are more severe than those associated with physical workplace violence.

 

- Work environment factors contribute to the incidence of workplace violence. For example,

low levels of control over one’s work and high levels of work intensity (tight deadlines, working

at very high speed), working in frequent contact with customers, clients and other non-colleagues

are associated with a higher likelihood of being bullied.

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This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

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Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
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