Search

This article summarizes the findings of a representative study of illtreatment in the British workplace. Using evidence drawn from nearly 4,000 inhome, face-to-face interviews and backed up by four organizational case studies, the article illustrates how workplace ill-treatment falls into three distinct, but overlapping, categories. Just under half the British workforce experienced unreasonable treatment at work over a two year period while forty per cent of employees experienced incivility or disrespect. Violence and injury is less common than other types of ill treatment but was still experienced by the equivalent of over one million British workers. The article shows which workplaces and which types of employee were most likely to be affected in each of these categories and suggests ways of minimizing workplace ill-treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies based on British Crime Survey (BCS) data suggest that the overall incidence of workplace assault is relatively low. However, these data have a number of limitations. They include only assaults carried out by clients or the public, provide limited information about the individuals involved and their workplaces, and tell us little about perceived causes of violence at work. The 2008 Workplace Behaviour Survey (WBS) presents a more detailed picture than has hitherto been available about the extent and nature of interpersonal assaults at work. This paper discusses in detail the WBS findings regarding the prevalence, frequency and patterns of workplace assaults in Britain. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]