Social Sustainability
Workplace Violence
Definition
Workplace violence covers threats, assaults, bullying, sexual harassment and abuse in the world of work, whether from colleagues, managers, customers or third parties. ILO Convention No. 190 (2019) is the first international treaty recognising the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence.
References
Source imported for editorial provenance.
This reference provides supporting context for how “Workplace Violence” is defined and used.
Overview
How it is used
Employers adopt anti-harassment and violence-prevention policies with reporting channels; OHS risk assessments include violence; grievance mechanisms handle complaints; social sustainability reporting treats incidents as material workforce issues.
Why it matters
Violence and harassment destroy dignity, health and equality at work, and disproportionately affect women and marginalised workers — a core social sustainability failure.