One In Five Workers Across the Globe Subject To Violence And Harassment

First global survey shows almost 23% of workers worldwide have experienced violence and harassment at work, though only about half report it to anyone.

Photo by George Bakos on Unsplash

The first global survey shows that violence and harassment are common occurances in workplaces around the world.

Almost a quarter of workers, an estimated 743 million workers, report having experienced at least one form of violence or harassment.

The survey found 46.2% of victims experienced psychological violence and harassment; 14.4% experienced physical violence and harassment; and 7.6% experienced sexual violence and harassment.

The survey results are based on 125,000 interviews conducted by Gallup in 2021 in 121 countries and territories .

Young women are twice as likely as young men to face sexual violence and harassment, and migrant women are almost twice as likely as non-migrant women to report sexual violence and harassment.

About three out of five victims say they experienced violence and harassment at work multiple times and 80% say the last incident took place within the prior five years.

The survey was conducted by the International Labour Organization, Lloyd’s Register Foundation and the Gallup poll organization.

Only half of victims shared their experience with anyone else and often only after they experienced more than one form of violence and harassment. Factors cited for failing to report abuse include concern it would be a waste of time and fear that reporting it would harm the worker’s reputation.

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