Even after strong regulations, where we stand in workplace violence and harassment…. : Survey Report
HIGHLIGHTS:
- First ever survey on violence and harassment at work.
- One out of five experienced the workplace violence and harassment.
- Affected most, the young, migrant and wage earners.
- Most violence and harassment form are psychological, physical and sexual.
- Only 50 percent open to disclose the matter.
- The survey pointed more strict legislations and awareness programs.
According to the Trio Survey report, the first global survey on workplace violence and harassment, one out of every five people has been affected globally.
A global survey on workplace violence and harassment conducted jointly by the International Labour Organization (ILO), Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF), and Gallup aims to improve understanding and awareness of an issue rooted in complex economic, social, and cultural factors.
The survey revealed that more than one in five people (about 23 percent) in employment have experienced violence and harassment at work, whether physical, psychological or sexual.
The measurement of the violence and harassment at work is difficult because the victim feels uncomfortable to express their experience to someone. The report found that only half of the victims worldwide had discussed their experiences to someone.
Non- disclosure of the violence and harassment experience at work, main reason stated by the victims was, ‘waste of time’ and ‘reputation fear’. Women were more open to sharing their experiences than men.
The first ever survey, on violence and harassment at work found that the workplace abuse is widespread globally and effectively pronounced among young people, migrants and wage earners, which has affect the women largely.
However, the survey found that the psychological violence and harassment was most commonly experienced by both men and women, with 17.9 percent workers experiences it at some extents, during their employment.
The violence and harassment at work were experienced multiple times by more than 60 percent of the victims, and even more in the last five years.
The workplace violence and harassment affected most to the youth, migrant workers, and salaried women and men.
Even though there are strong regulations to prevent violence and harassment at work, they haven’t helped protect working professionals from such victimization. Companies and organizations have been unaware or unwilling to tackle violence and harassment at the workplace.
The survey provides a strong baseline to work much more on further tracking the progress on more strong regulations and corporates actions toward workplace violence and harassment.
The report makes a range of recommendation, as:
- Collect robust data on a regular basis: The survey report emphasized multi-level, robust data collection on violence and harassment at work, to reform the preventive and remedial laws and mechanisms, policies and programs, and research advocacy.
- Mechanism Updation and Extension : To effectively prevent and manage violence and harassment at work the report recommended to extend inspection system and update occupational safety ans health policies and programmes.
- More awareness programme implementation at workplace : To change the perception, stigma, attitude and behaviour of people that perpetuate violence and harassment, required to induce more awareness programme at work. Speciallially, emphasized to address the discrimination and bises at work
- Institutional capacity enhancement : The report also emphasised on enhancing the capacity of institutions at each levels to deliver the effective prevention, remediation and support, to build people’s trust in justice and assured support to victims.
The Trio-survey report is based on a survey conducted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF), and Gallup in 2021, which interviewed nearly 75 000 working professionals from 121 countries.
