June 28, 2006—Violence at work, ranging from bullying and mobbing, threats by psychologically unstable co-workers, sexual harassment and homicide, is increasing worldwide and has reached epidemic levels in some countries, according to the International Labour Office (ILO).
The global cost of this workplace violence is enormous, costing untold millions of dollars in losses in some countries due to causes including absenteeism and sick leave, the study says.
It also notes that professions once regarded as sheltered from workplace violence such as teaching, social services, library services and healthcare are being exposed to increasing acts of violence, in both developed and developing countries.
The findings are based on a new study entitled “Violence at Work, Third edition,” by Vittorio Di Martino, an international expert on stress and workplace violence, and Duncan Chappell, past president of the New South Wales Mental Health Review, Australia, and the Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal, United Kingdom.
In the United States, however, where homicide is the third-leading cause of death at work, the number of workplace murders has declined in recent years, with a similar trend for non-fatal assaults. The report says women represent approximately 61 percent of all victimized workers because of their concentration in jobs considered high-risk for assault.
For more information, visit the ILO Web site.
