Workplace Violence Statistics By Types, Industry, Remote Work and Corporate Policies

Introduction

Workplace Violence Statistics: Workplace violence includes any kind of physical or verbal aggression that occurs in a work setting, including threats, harassment, or even physical attacks. It affects employees in many fields but is especially common in healthcare, retail, and public service sectors, where workers interact with the public frequently. This kind of violence impacts not only employees but also decreases overall morale, increases absenteeism, and disrupts productivity.

In recent years, companies have prioritized creating safer environments, as violence can lead to mental health issues, long-term injuries, and significant business losses. Addressing workplace violence is vital for ensuring a secure and supportive workplace for all employees.

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• Workplace violence incidents have surged by 15% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
• Workplace Violence Statistics show that healthcare and social service industries report the highest workplace violence rates, with 70% of incidents occurring in these sectors.
• Approximately 80% of businesses affected by workplace violence experienced a drop in productivity and employee morale.
• Workplace violence costs U.S. businesses over USD 130 billion annually due to lost productivity, medical expenses, and legal fees.
• As of 2024, the most common types of workplace violence are Verbal threats (45%) and physical assaults (25%).
• Meanwhile, in the healthcare and retail industries, female employees are 40% more likely than male counterparts to experience workplace violence.
• Workplace Violence Statistics further state that over 60% of employees exposed to workplace violence reported experiencing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
• In response, 55% of companies have enhanced security protocols and offered conflict resolution training in 2024.

General Workplace Violence Statistics

• Each year, around 2 million people experience violence at work, affecting their safety and well-being in their jobs.
• Around 1 in 4 workplace violence cases are not reported due to various reasons.
• One out of seven workers feels that their workplace is not safe for them.
• About 75% of workplace violence cases involve assaults, making them the most common incidents.
• Most people hurt in recent workplace violence are between 25 and 54 years old.
• Meanwhile, around 64% of people who died in violent incidents were between 25 and 54 years old.
• Around 7% of fatal assaults involved acts of hitting, kicking, beating and shoving.
• Workplace Violence Statistics further state that 62% of workplace shooters had mental health problems before any type of violence occurred within the workplace.
• Each violent event causes an employee to take an average of 8 sick days.
• Workplace productivity can drop by 50% after a violent incident happens.
• All types of workplace violence cost businesses about USD 130 billion each year in total.

(Source: techreport.com)

• Workplace Violence Statistics show that around 35% of U.S. workers feel that their workplace culture allows bullying to happen.

Workplace Violence Statistics By Types

(Source: jobera.com)

• Psychological Violence: This is the most frequently reported form, affecting 17.9% of the global workforce, or roughly 583 million people.
• Physical Assaults: These incidents account for 8.8% of global workplace violence cases, impacting around 277 million individuals worldwide.
• Sexual Harassment: Affecting about 6% of employees globally, sexual harassment disproportionately impacts women.
• General Workplace Bullying: Around 30% of American employees report being bullied, which encompasses repeated intimidation, harmful conduct, and work sabotage.

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Workplace Violence Statistics By Industry

• As of 2024, taxi drivers have a 20 times higher risk of being killed while working.
• Over 28% of workplace sexual harassment cases occur in service-based jobs.
• Meanwhile, 98% of all violence happens in service jobs, mostly in the food, accommodation, and retail sectors.
• Around 80% of people harmed by sexual violence at work are women.
• A recent survey of 2024 shows 80% of teachers faced violence, mainly from students, last year.
• Nearly half of emergency doctors say they have been assaulted in the workplace.

The table below details all the violence incidence rates per 10,000 workers in different industries in 2024:

Workplace Violence Statistics in the Healthcare Industry

• A 2024 report shows that 81.6% of nurses have faced some kind of violence at work.
• Around 45.5% of healthcare staff said violence in their unit increased last year, while only a few saw a decrease.
• Staffing shortages increase violence risks; 63% of nurses handle too many patients, and 26% may leave for safety reasons.
• Almost 47%of ER doctors say they have been physically assaulted while working in emergency rooms.
• In contrast, only 29.5% of healthcare facilities have enough staff to manage violence, and just 17% add extra workers during busy times.
• The most common types of violence include verbal threats (67.8%) and physical threats (38.7%).

Remote Work Workplace Violence Statistics

• As of 2024, around 61.5% of remote workers were affected by workplace bullying.
• 50% of employees have also mentioned that they were being bullied in virtual meetings.
• In addition, 17.4% of employees were bullied in the hybrid workplaces.
• On the other hand, 9% of work-from-home employees were bullied via emails.

Workplace Violence Statistics By Country, 2024

By Demographics

• Workplace Violence Statistics show that people aged 25 to 34 faced almost 23% of workplace violence cases, especially in stressful jobs like retail and healthcare settings.
• Around 20% of incidents affect ages 35 to 44, often involving supervisors in higher-risk workplace roles.
• For people from 45 to 54 years, about 18% of workplace violence incidents involve experienced workers in public roles.
• About 15% of workplace violence incidents involve older employees aged 55 and above in high-risk roles.
• Women account for about 72.5% of nonfatal workplace violence cases, mostly in healthcare roles.
• Men, however, represent 27.5% of such cases, experiencing fewer incidents overall.

Financial Cost of Workplace Violence Statistics

• Workplace violence costs about USD 120 billion each year, impacting healthcare workers’ safety and increasing overall healthcare expenses.
• Workplace violence costs the U.S. healthcare industry around USD 4.2 billion yearly due to safety measures, injuries, and turnover.
• Workplace violence, affecting nearly 82% of healthcare workers, is estimated to cost the sector over USD 4 billion annually.
• Workplace violence prevention training and security upgrades will amount to USD 1.1 billion.
• Additionally, costs for post-incident responses, which include medical care for affected staff, are estimated at over USD 429 million annually.

Workplace Violence Statistics on Corporate Policies

• Around 55% of workers do not know about their company’s emergency safety plans.
• Only 45% of employees in America know their company has a workplace violence prevention plan.
• Meanwhile, 31% of employees don’t know about these programs, while 24% are unsure of their existence.
• 54% of workers believe their managers haven’t done enough to ensure job safety.
• 42% believe their building management won’t enforce safety rules and 30% doubt safety technology investments.
• Workplace Violence Statistics show that 62% of companies view an active shooter as a major risk, while 79% still feel unprepared, with 61% lacking drills.
• To date, 50% of HR professionals are unsure if their company has a violence prevention program.
• Around 25% of workplace violence cases are not reported by companies.

Workplace Violence Prevention Statistics

• Training Programs: Training on violence prevention can lower incidents by up to 30%, enhancing safety for all workers.
• Healthcare Sector Risks: This sector had 57,610 nonfatal violence cases, with women reporting higher risk levels than men.
• High-Risk Roles: Jobs with public interactions, like retail and healthcare, face higher risks, with 23% of cases.
• Policy Implementation: Organizations with clear prevention policies save USD 250 to 330 billion annually by reducing incidents and legal costs.
• Psychological Safety Initiatives: Around 18% of workers worldwide face psychological violence, highlighting the importance of mental health support.

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Demand Influencing Factors of Workplace Violence

• Workforce shortages lead to high stress levels, with over 48% of healthcare workers experiencing exhaustion, raising workplace violence risks.
• Nearly 63% of employees feel unsafe, linking mental health issues to higher violence occurrences.
• Public-facing roles in healthcare, retail, and transport have 3.3 times more violence cases.
• Changes in workplace policies and understaffing increase conflict risks, affecting safety.
• Lack of violence prevention training leaves 26% of employees feeling unprepared for violent incidents.

Conclusion

Workplace violence has become a serious issue in modern-day workplaces, which is affecting employees across various age groups and industries. In recent years, mostly younger workers, those in customer-facing roles, have experienced a high rate of incidents. Healthcare and social services sectors are particularly vulnerable, with staff regularly facing risks of aggression or harassment. Addressing these issues requires strong safety policies, better training, and awareness among workers and employers.

This article on workplace violence statistics also includes many preventive measures that allow for reducing risks, helping all employees by making them feel safe, and providing encouragement in their working environment. By prioritizing safety, companies can protect their workers’ well-being and improve overall productivity.