Safe at work? Global experiences of violence and harassment

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A photograph of a rally in Bangladesh in which the Green Bangla Garment Workers' Federation want ratification and realisation of ILO convention 190.

Violence and harassment at work remains an issue for many people globally.

This report explores individual experiences across countries and demographics around the world. It provides insight for regulators, businesses, governments, communities, and researchers to help them develop relevant policies to prevent harassment for millions of people during their working lives.

Download the report

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An introduction to the report

Experts from the International Labour Organization and Lloyd's Register Foundation discuss the report's findings.

Key Findings

More than one in five people worldwide (21%) say they have experienced some form of violence and harassment – whether physical, psychological, or sexual – at work during their lifetime. More than one in 10 people (12%) say they have experienced it within the past year.
Psychological harassment – such as insults, threats, bullying or intimidation –is the most common form of workplace abuse globally, with 17% (about one in six people) saying they have experienced this during their lifetime. This is followed by physical (7%) and sexual (6%) violence and harassment.
A number of groups are at heightened risk of particular and multiple forms of violence and harassment globally, including migrant women, three in ten (30%) of whom say they have experienced any form of violence and harassment at work, compared with two in five women (21%) working in their country of birth.
For a majority of those who have experienced it, violence and harassment at work is a recurring issue. More than three in five people (61%) who have experienced psychological harassment say this has happened three or more times, including almost two in five (37%) who have experienced it more than five times. More than half of people who have experienced physical (56%) and sexual (52%) violence and harassment say this has happened three or more times.

Stories

A man and woman having a heated discussion with a server in a dining place.

One in six people have experienced psychological harassment at work

Identified as the most common form of workplace abuse according to the data, people say they have experienced harassment through insults, threats, bullying or intimidation.

A photograph of a busy street in Finland, with people crossing a tram line in a city.

Five Nordic nations among top ten reporting violence and harassment at work

The World Risk Poll reveals that all five Nordic nations are among the top ten countries where the highest proportion of people reported experiencing violence and harassment at work.

Garments workers stage a protest rally demanding to stop violence and harassment at workplace and ratification and realization of ILO convention-190, in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Worldwide, men and women have different experiences of violence and harassment at work

While the World Risk Poll reveals that globally, men are fractionally more likely to report experience of violence and harassment at work than women, 22% vs. 20% respectively, it also shows that men and women have different experiences of violence and harassment in the workplace.

A photograph of passport control at an airport in the United Kingdom. Queues of people are waiting in line to gain entry into the United Kingdom.

Migrant women are especially vulnerable to violence and harassment at work

The World Risk Poll reveals that globally three in ten (30%) migrant women say they have experienced violence and harassment at work, compared with two in five women (21%) working in their country of birth.

What forms of violence and harassment to men and women experience at work?

The data visualisation shows the proportion of men and women who reported any experience of each of the three forms of violence and harassment (physical, psychological, and sexual) asked about by the Poll, as well as the proportion who experienced different combinations of forms. This visualisation is split by gender, with women shown above and men below.

Use your cursor to hover over the data segments for more information, and scroll down to see more data. We recommend using a desktop or laptop device for the best user experience.

Violence and Harassment

Expert comment

A banner image of Susan Maybud, the article's author.

Violence and harassment shouldn’t be a workplace risk

Susan Maybud, an international consultant on gender equality and improving women's advancement in the workplace, discusses the World Risk Poll's findings on workplace violence and harassment.

Banner image of Johan Botes, the author of the article.

Shining a light on men’s experience of violence and harassment in Southern African workplaces

Johan Botes, from Baker McKenzie Johannesburg, comments on men's experience of violence and harassment in Southern African workplaces.

A banner image of Asha Palmer, the article's author.

Workplace harassment training: if knowing is half the battle, education is the other half

Asha Palmer discusses the importance of education in the battle against violence and harassment at work.

Citation

If you wish to use and reference the Safe at work? Global experiences of violence and harassment report in your own work, please include the following DOI: https://doi.org/10.60743/E5JH-8Z68

Example Citation in IEEE Style:

Lloyd's Register Foundation. (2023). World Risk Poll 2021: Safe at work? Global experiences of violence and harassment. Lloyd's Register Foundation. https://doi.org/10.60743/E5JH-8Z68