Photo :webshot. 

December 7, 2022

Andrew Campbell 

"Experiences of Violence and Harassment at Work: A Global First Survey," the survey, looked into the prevalence and severity of workplace violence, as well as the reasons why it goes unreported. According to the first global survey on workplace harassment and violence, one in every five people has experienced workplace violence.

The survey, released on December 5, was a collaboration between the United Nations International Labor Organization (ILO), the independent global charity Lloyd's Register Foundation (LRF), and the analytics and polling firm Gallup. The ILO-LRF-Gallup study was based on interviews with nearly 75,000 employed people aged 15 and up in 121 countries and territories in 2021 as part of the Lloyd's Register Foundation World Risk Poll.

Although it discovered that 23% of workers worldwide had experienced violence or harassment, it is limited by the number of such incidents that are reported. Only about half of victims told anyone about their ordeal. 

The first global survey on workplace harassment and violence aims to raise awareness and understanding of a complex issue influenced by economic, social, and cultural factors. It may be difficult to quantify workplace violence and harassment. The two most common justifications for not disclosing were "waste of time" and "fear for their reputation."