Violence on the Job - a Global Problem

32 Countries Surveyed

France, Argentina, Romania, Canada and England have reported the highest rates of assaults and sexual harassment on the job, says the International Labor office--the most extensive worldwide survey of violence in the workplace.   

The outbursts of violence occurring at workplaces around the globe suggest that this issue is truly one that transcends the boundaries of a particular country, work setting or occupational group--the recent report says.

Women are especially at risk, because so many are concentrated in the high-risk occupations, particularly as teachers, social workers, nurses, and bank and shop workers.    Taxi drivers, also, are a vulnerable group.

Both workers and employers show a growing recognition that "psychological violence" is a serious form of violence.  Psychological violence includes bullying or mobbing - group psychological harassment.    A 1994 survey by the Canadian Union of Public Employees showed that almost 70% of respondents believed that verbal aggression was the leading form of violence against them.