Workplace Violence Statistics By Industry And Country

Updated · Jan 24, 2025


Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Editor’s Choice
- Type Of Workplace Violence Employee Experience
- Awareness Of Cyber Bullying In The Workplace
- Number Of Victims Of Workplace Shootings
- Workplace Statistics By Industry
- Nurses In Canada Expereices Workplace Violence
- Workplace Violence Statistics By Country
- Commit Murders On Workplace
- Reasons For Not Reporting Workplace Violence By Employees
- Conclusion
Introduction
Workplace Violence Statistics: Workplace violence is one of the most severe ongoing issues worldwide as it disrupts the well-being and safety of employees in most sectors. These recent workplace violence statistics brought into force the prevalence and effect of such incidents and point to the need for effective action and reaction strategies against this.
Editor’s Choice
- According to workplace violence statistics, Physical violence makes up 25% of the entire total violations at workplaces and influences people in very high-risk occupations such as in the healthcare and commercial industries, as well as in the field of security, and leads to severe financial and legal consequences.
- Awareness of Cyberbullying; the percentage of employees aware of the policies dealing with Cyberbullying; figures for that from one Australian survey, which point to more than 50% aware of these policies.
- The highest percentage of cases of workplace violence, more than 98%, occurs among people in service industries like food, accommodation, and retail.
- Workplace violence statistics were more discouraging, especially in the health sector; 80% of the assaults were teachers, whereas 81.6% were nurses.
- Services to the point of violence are 63% of nurses working more than twice the worth of what should be considered typical due to understaffing, with 26% showing signs of retiring due to fear of self-safety.
- Only less than a third of physical assaults, 47%, are sustained by accidents in accident and emergency facilities, with the personnel at the level of 29.5% to keep distributed manpower from being overwhelmed.
- Workplace violence statistics show that the United States topped the list with 17.9% psychological violence, 8.5% physical violence, and 6.3% sexual harassment while a few others report some different ratios.
- Some of these statistics are that Australia has the highest rate of sexual harassment among women, with around 30% of them having faced that.
- 55.1% of employees think reporting workplace violence is an exercise in futility and 45.7% fear damage to their reputations.
- 28.5% of perpetrators say this violence comes about due to unclear procedures and mistrust towards the authority and 33.2% fear punishment.
- Workplace violence statistics reveal that Nurses in Canada face high levels of violence, with 90% exposure to violent words, 79% physical assault by patients, and 70% abuse from colleagues themselves.
- The most common forms of workplace violence are verbal threats (45.3%) and physical threats (34.1%).
Type Of Workplace Violence Employee Experience
(Reference: jobera.com)
- Workplace violence may take many forms in business with effects that vary from one employee to another.
- The most recent available workplace violence statistics indicate that sexual harassment contributes to 6.0% of such violence.
- These are cases whereby unwarranted sexual advances are made, said a word of improper demands, or physical coercion of a sexual nature is made against a person, thus resulting in a hostile environment of employment.
- This might lead to an employee undergoing emotional trauma and manifesting psychological illness related to job performance. The low morale and high turnover rate are also connected to this condition.
- Psychological violence and harassment are most prevalent reported with about 17.9% of such cases of workplace violence. This is defined by bullying, verbal abuse, threats, and harassment.
- Such behavior can have very grave consequences for an employee’s mental health with its long-term effects.
- An anxiety disorder can develop quite easily, depression seems all too possible, and productivity would be dropping rapidly.
- Such businesses are the true carriers of fear walls; without this, not a single man can prosper here. Physical violence generally includes 8.8% of violent acts at the workplace.
- Physical attacks were found to be the major problem in violent acts; other problems included death threats and threats of bodily harm, as well as overly aggressive attitudes.
- Violence of this kind involves people in professions that are exposed to higher risks, such as healthcare, retail, or safety industries.
- This can be extremely costly for a business, not only directly threatening employees but resulting in a significant financial loss due to the subsequent costs that can be incurred in medical bills, legal expenses, and compensation awards.
Awareness Of Cyber Bullying In The Workplace
(Reference: statista.com)
- There are two types of awareness of workplace policies concerning cyberbullying among adult workers in various countries.
- The outcomes showed that different levels of awareness existed among employees as to their companies having all-inclusive policies that tackle cyberbullying.
- This percentage suggests that more than half the number of adults in Australia knew about respective workplace regulations meant to prevent and address cyberbullying.
- Workplace violence statistics prove how the honesty of the policies can be well communicated such that employees understand what is available to protect them against such abuses in their professional environment.
Number Of Victims Of Workplace Shootings
Characteristic | Fatalities | Injured | Total |
Virginia Walmart shooting (Chesapeake, Virginia, 2022) | 6 | 6 | 12 |
Hartford Beer Distributor shooting (Manchester, Connecticut, 2010) | 9 | 2 | 11 |
Harry Pratt Co. warehouse shooting (Aurora, Illinois, 2019) | 5 | 6 | 11 |
ESL shooting (Sunnyvale, California, 1988) | 7 | 4 | 11 |
Royal Oak postal shootings (Royal Oak, Michigan, 1991) | 5 | 5 | 10 |
Boulder supermarket shooting (Boulder, Colorado, 2021) | 10 | 0 | 10 |
San Jose VTA shooting (San Jose, California, 2021) | 9 | 0 | 9 |
Navistar shooting (Melrose Park, Illinois, 2001) | 5 | 4 | 9 |
Atlanta massage parlor shootings (Atlanta, Georgia, 2021) | 8 | 1 | 9 |
Accent Signage Systems shooting (Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2012) | 7 | 1 | 8 |
Hotel shooting (Tampa, Florida, 1999) | 5 | 3 | 8 |
Goleta postal shootings (Goleta, California, 2006) | 8 | 0 | 8 |
Half Moon Bay spree shooting (Half Moon Bay, California, 2023) | 7 | 1 | 8 |
(Source: statista.com)
- In 1986, there was one of the deadliest workplace shootings in the history of the United States. It took place in Edmond, Oklahoma at the post office and killed 15 people and injured six others.
- This tragedy is the premise of the slang “-going postal.” Generally, a mass shooting in the United States is a kind of violent incident by which four or more individuals are shot, stabbed, or killed.
- However, subjective sources vary in their definition of the term.
- The motives for workplace violence through rampage killings are somewhat complicated. Usually, these acts are formed because of occupational stress, job dissatisfaction, or simply troubles with mental health.
- The majority of them were perpetrated by men, according to statistics from mass shootings in the U.S.
- Since 1982, only four planned mass shootings have been recorded as being orchestrated by women.
- Additionally, most firearms used in these attacks were legally obtained, with only 16 cases involving weapons acquired through illegal means.
- Workplace violence statistics indicate that only four mass shootings have been carried out by women as part of a planning scheme since 1982.
- Moreover, the majority of the guns used in these mass shootings can be traced back to legal origins, with merely 16 cases where the acquisition of fire weapons happened unlawfully.
Workplace Statistics By Industry
- Between 1982 and 2024, taxi drivers faced a 20 times higher risk of death on the job than the average worker.
- Service-based industries are encountered by more than 28% incidence of sexual harassment at the workplace.
- Workplace violence statistics state that 98% of incidents of inappropriate behavior occur within the service sector. The majority of such incidences involve employees of services in areas such as food, accommodation, and retail. About 80% of victims of sexual violence in the workplace have been female.
- In a survey conducted in 2024, it was reported that 80% of teachers experienced workplace violence within the last year, mainly from students.
- Nearly half of ER clinicians get attacked on the job while working. Plus, according to the 2024 statistics, 81.6% of nurses get some form of violence in their workplace.
- There were findings conducted in 2024 that showed that 45.5% of health practitioners had an increase in violence in their units in the previous year and just a little decrease in violence.
- The incidence of violence in the workplace also hinges on staffing issues, with 63% of nurses managing out-of-control workloads from patients and 26% intending to leave for purposes concerning safety.
- More than 46% of emergency physicians surveyed have suffered from physical violence while working, but only 29.5% of healthcare resources support worker numbers sufficient so that they can deal with workplace violence.
- Further, only 17.0% hire extra personnel during peak hours to mitigate these risks. The most common instances of violence were verbal threats (67.8%) followed by physical threats (38.7%).
Nurses In Canada Expereices Workplace Violence
(Reference: statista.com)
- In 2024, a report about workplace violence revealed alarming statistics about the experience of nurses in Canada.
- The workplace violence statistics indicated that 9 out of 10 nurses reported some verbal harassment from clients within the past year. In addition, the report added that 79% of clients attacked nurses within that period, thereby indicating the considerable problem of abuse at the healthcare facility. However, the abuse did not just come from the patients or clients.
- The report revealed that some 70% of nurses reported that nurses experienced verbal abuse from one another within one year. That is a spread of violence within the nursing profession beyond external sources.
Workplace Violence Statistics By Country
Country | Psychological Violence share | Physical violence share | Sexual Harassment Share |
United States | 17.90% | 8.50% | 6.30% |
Australia | 30% of women report sexual harassment | 7.5% Physical | 6% of women harassed |
United Kingdom | 21% report any workplace violence | 9% Physical | 4.5% sexual |
Canada | 22% | 8.00% | 5% |
Germany | 18% psychological | 6% Physical | 3% sexual |
France | 23% | 7.20% | 4% |
Japan | 14% | 5.50% | 3.20% |
(Source: coolest-gadgets.com)
- It is established that workplace violence has become a global phenomenon where different countries vary not only in rates of events relating to psychological and physical violence harassment but also in different acts of sexual harassment.
- In the USA, 17.9% of workers experienced psychological violence – 8.5% physical violence and 6.3% harassment of a sexual nature at work.
- Workplace violence statistics show that in Australia, sexual harassment is a pronounced form of workplace violence, with 30% of women experiencing it and 7.5% of employees experiencing physical violence. 6% of Australian females have reported being harassed at work.
- Such physical activities differ in incidences experienced among employees in the United Kingdom, with 21% having reported such experiences, with 9% and 4.5 % representing physical violence and sexual harassment victims, respectively.
- Canada ranks just about average in that 22% of its employees have known mental violence, another 8% have had to face physical violence, and 5% have suffered sexual harassment on the job.
- The percentages for workplace violence in Germany show that there is 18% psychological violence, 6% physical violence, and 3% sexual harassment.
- For France, the statistics show that in France, the rate is significantly higher: 23% are affected by psychological violence; 7.2% by physical violence; and 4% experience sexual harassment.
- In the Far East, states reported Psychological violence shows 14%, physical violence by 5.5%, and 3.2% reported sexual assault.
- They show varying levels of workplace violence, so they indicate a need for stronger elucidation of the necessity of intense policy formulation and protection.
Commit Murders On Workplace
(Reference: enterpriseappstoday.com)
- Behind workplace homicides are an array of circumstances. Apart from the usual occurrences in robberies, a good number of workplace homicides happen under them.
- Nearly 43.1% of all workplace homicides occur by robbers, making them the most common perpetrators of the incidents.
- Following robbers are coworkers, those who are probably 25.93% of the cases. This resonates strongly with how interpersonal differences and animosities even within the common area can be so deadly.
- Consumers, primarily customers, and clients, account for almost a fifth of workplace homicides: 17.17%.
- Many of these incidences occur during quarrels and dissatisfaction or unexpected violent outbreaks within the service-based industries.
- Lastly, about 9.43% of workplace violence cases involve family members and/or domestic partners. Incidents generally result from outside life spilling into conflicts in the workspace between colleagues, creating unique challenges for securing the employee.
- These statistics are indicative of vigorously strong security measures in workplace violence prevention programs.
Reasons For Not Reporting Workplace Violence By Employees
(Reference: jobera.com)
- Employees do not report violent or harassing incidents in the workplace for various reasons. The most prevalent reason is that 55% of workers feel that complaining does not change or push through any corrective action.
- Workplace violence statistics indicate that 45% fear damage to their reputation and 45% fear creating bad past work notes by reporting it to their superiors.
- Specifically, 43% state that they are unsure about procedures in the workplace, making them unsure as to what is the proper way to deal with reporting an incident.
- Other reasons may be that the officers would follow up a statement to the end with no bias, suspected by an additional 43% of them about the person managing the senior executive’s office since they are unsure whether their complaints would be seriously taken or handled totally.
- Concerns about workplace disclosure also prevent reporting as 41% of workers believed that their situation may become public knowledge, which may result in undue attention and tension.
- Again, 39% failed to report incidents as they did not know what steps they should take.
- Fear of punishment also emerges as a major reason as 33% of workers are still apprehensive about possible retaliation from their employer, colleagues, or even from the perpetrator.
- These control reality on the necessity of clearer reporting systems, stringent measures to protect victims, and the nurturing of workplace cultures in which safety and welfare receive top billing in activities that occur within a company.
Conclusion
The workplace violence statistics underscore societies' many points that fully press the need for proactive addressing of workplace violence in organizations. Those must be inculcated in networking comprehensive policymaking, conducting training at regular intervals, and developing a culture of safety and mutual respect to reduce the prevalence as well as the impact of violence at work.
FAQ.
Persecution and violence happened at about 53.8% in the workplace setting, respectively. Verbal abuse, bullying, as well as threats are some of the activities that will rather affect the employee’s mental health.
The service sector accounts for the highest workplace violence incidents, with over 98% being reported in the service sectors of food, accommodation, and retail. Health workers, especially nurses and emergency responders, also report high levels of vulnerability to physical assaults and acts of misbehaviour.
Compared to other reasons, most employees (55.1%) see no use in reporting the incident. They said 45.7% fear losing their reputation rather than experiencing it. Some other reasons are unclear procedures and chances of workplace retaliation along with a lack of confidence in the management of their organization.
It differs according to the states because, in the U. S., about 17.9% of psychological violence is experienced among employees while in Australia; 30% of women acknowledge that they were sexually harassed in the workplace. Canada, the UK, Germany, France, and Japan also report varying fractious instances.
Even with the poisonous as well as malicious intent, many killings in the workplace are done by thieves (43.1%), followed by co-workers (25.93%), and clients or clients (17.17%). However, 9.43% of workplace homicide incidents are family members as well as domestic partners who have brought their disputes inside the workplace.

Saisuman is a skilled content writer with a passion for mobile technology, law, and science. She creates featured articles for websites and newsletters and conducts thorough research for medical professionals and researchers. Fluent in five languages, Saisuman's love for reading and languages sparked her writing career. She holds a Master's degree in Business Administration with a focus on Human Resources and has experience working in a Human Resources firm. Saisuman has also worked with a French international company. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and singing classical songs. Now at Smartphone Thoughts, Saisuman specializes in reviewing smartphones and analyzing app statistics, making complex information easy to understand for readers.