Workplace Violence Prevention Overview

Violence and harassment in the workplace can affect all business sectors and occupations. Customers, clients, patients, students, workers, intimate partners, or family members may hurt, threaten, or harass workers while they are on the job. This can have negative effects on the personal well-being of workers and their interpersonal relationships, both within and outside the workplace.

If these behaviours are allowed to continue, the work environment and quality of care may suffer. As workers become more anxious, they may become less productive and less committed to their work, regardless of whether they are the target of the abuse.

Failure to address these inappropriate or unacceptable behaviours also has financial consequences. The workplace may experience an increase in workers’ lost time from work, an increase in Workplace Safety and Insurance Board costs, or an increase in medical or healthcare expenses. Employers may also face lawsuits or other legal action. Violence and harassment in the workplace are part of a continuum of behaviours and can be interconnected. Employers need to protect workers against violent acts and threats of violence, and create an atmosphere in which workers feel free to come forward with concerns or complaints.¹

Acts of aggression and violence can be committed by anyone. This includes employees, supervisors, managers, clients (patients, residents, customers), students, contract workers, visitors, families of clients, families or friends of employees, or intruders. They can also occur outside of work settings, at work-related functions or at off-site locations such as conferences, social events, or client homes visits, or take the form of threatening telephone calls from co-workers, clients or managers.²