Workplace Issues - Assaulted On The Job

Assaults in the workplace are down. This graph presents data on the decline in the number of violent incidents in the workplace between 1993 and 1999. The six individual employment categories presented have the dubious distinction of being the categories with the highest rates of violent criminal victimization. Police officers, nurses, psychiatrists, cab drivers, and cashiers all are at high risk of being assaulted on-the-job. A total work-place figure is provided under the heading "All Sectors."

The trend is clear. Violent acts in the workplace have declined sharply. For the workplace as a whole, the decline between 1993 and 1999 was 44%, a full 10% greater than the decline experienced by the society as a whole. Violent crime in the general population fell 34% during this period. A line has been drawn across the graph at the 34% mark to highlight the decline in violent crime in society overall. Bars passing that line all show "better" results than society as a whole.

In all but one of the most vulnerable employment categories, the rates of violent crime dropped by more than the rate for all violent crimes. This exception was for those who work with the mentally ill. But even in this category, improvement has been significant.

The graphic shows change over time. The table below shows the extent to which different groups of workers are vulnerable to violent assault. Here one can see how frequently those employed in the six categories are victimized. With the exception of those who work in law enforcement or those who work with the mentally ill, workers are safer on the job than in the public square. For every 1,000 people aged 12 years or older, 33 were the victims of a violent act in 1999, down by 34% from the rate of 50 per 1,000 people in 1993. Violent acts are down, both in the workplace and in the society at large and it is still more likely that one will be assaulted off the job than on the job. A somewhat less than reassuring fact.

Rates of Violent Victimization per 1,000 Workers

Category	1993	1999
Industry
Law Enforcement	163.1	74.1
Mental Health	64.4	46.1
Teaching	25.8	12.4
Retail Sales	21.9	14.1
Transportation	20.6	8.4
Medical Fields	20.3	10.0
All Private Employment	16.0	9.0
Society at Large *	50.0	33.0
* In the case of the "society at large," rates are per 1,000 people aged 12 years or older.

The preceding panels have shown that the people are safer in the workplace, both from accidental injury and from assault. Have employees also become safer from discrimination and harassment during the 1990s? We shall look at this question in the next panel.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Violent Crime Victimization Survey 2000, table entitled "Violence in the Workplace, 1993-99," available online at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cvusst.htm. For data on the rates of violent crime generally: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, Criminal Victimization 1999, Changes 1998-99 with Trends 1993-99, page 1.