[Global] Eradication of workplace harassment must be prioritised

Workplace harassment continues to be an issue in need of urgent attention and new research has shown that it is particularly pronounced among young people, migrants and low-wage earners, especially women, HRM Asia reports.

The survey by the UN International Labour Organisation, the Lloyd’s Register Foundation and Gallup revealed that over 22 per cent of almost 75,000 workers in 121 countries reported having experienced at least one type of violence or harassment.

One-third of people who experienced violence or harassment at work reportedly said they had experienced more than one form of abuse, while 6.3 per cent said they had faced all three forms - physical, psychological, and sexual violence and harassment - in the course of their working life.

17.9 per cent of men and women reported experiencing psychological violence and harassment at some point during their employment, while physical violence and harassment at the workplace were more likely to happen to men than women. 8.5 per cent of respondents surveyed reported incidents of such abuse at the workplace.

Overall, over 60 per cent of victims said these abuses had happened to them multiple times and, for the majority of these victims, the most recent incident took place within the last five years.

The report’s authors reportedly urged more effective legislation, policies, and practices to promote prevention measures. They said, “Violence and harassment in the world of work is a pervasive and harmful phenomenon, with profound and costly effects ranging from severe physical and mental health consequences to lost earnings and destroyed career paths to economic losses for workplaces and societies.”

Source: HRM Asia

(Quote via original reporting)

Workplace harassment continues to be an issue in need of urgent attention and new research has shown that it is particularly pronounced among young people, migrants and low-wage earners, especially women, HRM Asia reports.

The survey by the UN International Labour Organisation, the Lloyd’s Register Foundation and Gallup revealed that over 22 per cent of almost 75,000 workers in 121 countries reported having experienced at least one type of violence or harassment.

One-third of people who experienced violence or harassment at work reportedly said they had experienced more than one form of abuse, while 6.3 per cent said they had faced all three forms - physical, psychological, and sexual violence and harassment - in the course of their working life.

17.9 per cent of men and women reported experiencing psychological violence and harassment at some point during their employment, while physical violence and harassment at the workplace were more likely to happen to men than women. 8.5 per cent of respondents surveyed reported incidents of such abuse at the workplace.

Overall, over 60 per cent of victims said these abuses had happened to them multiple times and, for the majority of these victims, the most recent incident took place within the last five years.

The report’s authors reportedly urged more effective legislation, policies, and practices to promote prevention measures. They said, “Violence and harassment in the world of work is a pervasive and harmful phenomenon, with profound and costly effects ranging from severe physical and mental health consequences to lost earnings and destroyed career paths to economic losses for workplaces and societies.”

Source: HRM Asia

(Quote via original reporting)