Nearly half of U.S. workers fall victim to some form of abuse in the workplace, but a new study by McMaster University researchers says the bulk of the bullying is being done by members of the public rather than supervisors and co-workers.
The study found that about 47 million U.S. workers – about 41 per cent of the U.S. work force – reported some degree of psychological aggression while on the job within the past 12 months. Another 6 per cent reported falling victim to acts of violence on the job.
“Exposure to aggressive behaviour at work is associated with a wide range of negative consequences for individuals and organizations, including negative work attitudes, reduced well-being, and, in cases of physical violence, bodily injury or death,” Aaron Schat, assistant professor at McMaster's DeGroote School of Business and co-author of the study, said.
The report also found that about 13 per cent said they were subject to psychological abuse on the job on a weekly basis.
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Nearly one-quarter of respondents said they were insulted or called names, while 12 per cent said they were victim of indirect threats.
The survey also found that 7.6 per cent said they were threatened with being hit or having something thrown at them, and 1.9 per cent said they were threatened with a knife, gun or other weapon.
Actual acts of physical violence were much less common, with about 6 per cent of workers – about 7 million people – saying they had been physically attacked while on the job. Nearly all of those had also fallen victim to psychological abuse while at work.
About 1.3 per cent of respondents said they fell victim to violence on the job on a weekly basis.
“Assault with an object was the most common, being reported by 4.2 per cent of respondents,” the study said.
“Being pushed, grabbed or slapped in anger was reported by 3.9 per cent of respondents; being kicked, hit or bitten was reported by 3 per cent and being attacked with a knife, gun or other weapon was reported by 0.7 per cent.”
Less than 1 per cent of U.S. employees reported experiencing physical violence alone, the study found.
Surprisingly, most of the aggressors were people not directly connected with the work place.
The survey found that one-quarter of respondents said that members of the public were responsible for dishing out the abuse.
By comparison, 15 per cent pinpointed fellow employees as the culprits and 13 said their bosses or supervisors were to blame.
The study also found that men were more likely to report being the subject of psychological aggression on the job, although both genders were equally likely to be the targets of physical abuse.
Researchers also found that exposure to workplace aggression initial increases with age until an employee hits 30, after which it decreases with the passing of years.
People working evening and night shifts were also more likely to experience some form of abuse than their counterparts on the day shift, the study suggested.
Those in the professional and service occupations reported the highest exposure to violence on the job. Employees in sales-related jobs were at greater risk of being abused by members of the public.
“With the mantra, the customer is always right, being so prevalent, it may be that aggression from customers is tolerated in sales and customer service settings,” the report said.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060118.wagress0118/BNStory/International/
The study found that about 47 million U.S. workers – about 41 per cent of the U.S. work force – reported some degree of psychological aggression while on the job within the past 12 months. Another 6 per cent reported falling victim to acts of violence on the job.
“Exposure to aggressive behaviour at work is associated with a wide range of negative consequences for individuals and organizations, including negative work attitudes, reduced well-being, and, in cases of physical violence, bodily injury or death,” Aaron Schat, assistant professor at McMaster's DeGroote School of Business and co-author of the study, said.
The report also found that about 13 per cent said they were subject to psychological abuse on the job on a weekly basis.
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Nearly one-quarter of respondents said they were insulted or called names, while 12 per cent said they were victim of indirect threats.
The survey also found that 7.6 per cent said they were threatened with being hit or having something thrown at them, and 1.9 per cent said they were threatened with a knife, gun or other weapon.
Actual acts of physical violence were much less common, with about 6 per cent of workers – about 7 million people – saying they had been physically attacked while on the job. Nearly all of those had also fallen victim to psychological abuse while at work.
About 1.3 per cent of respondents said they fell victim to violence on the job on a weekly basis.
“Assault with an object was the most common, being reported by 4.2 per cent of respondents,” the study said.
“Being pushed, grabbed or slapped in anger was reported by 3.9 per cent of respondents; being kicked, hit or bitten was reported by 3 per cent and being attacked with a knife, gun or other weapon was reported by 0.7 per cent.”
Less than 1 per cent of U.S. employees reported experiencing physical violence alone, the study found.
Surprisingly, most of the aggressors were people not directly connected with the work place.
The survey found that one-quarter of respondents said that members of the public were responsible for dishing out the abuse.
By comparison, 15 per cent pinpointed fellow employees as the culprits and 13 said their bosses or supervisors were to blame.
The study also found that men were more likely to report being the subject of psychological aggression on the job, although both genders were equally likely to be the targets of physical abuse.
Researchers also found that exposure to workplace aggression initial increases with age until an employee hits 30, after which it decreases with the passing of years.
People working evening and night shifts were also more likely to experience some form of abuse than their counterparts on the day shift, the study suggested.
Those in the professional and service occupations reported the highest exposure to violence on the job. Employees in sales-related jobs were at greater risk of being abused by members of the public.
“With the mantra, the customer is always right, being so prevalent, it may be that aggression from customers is tolerated in sales and customer service settings,” the report said.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060118.wagress0118/BNStory/International/