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Rising workplace violence and harassment in Europe

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2026-08-17 05:17 UTC → 2026-08-17 17:07 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Reports from Austria and Greece indicate rising trends in workplace violence and harassment. In Austria, data from the General Accident Insurance Institution (AUVA) shows that occupational accidents resulting from violence rose by approximately 65 percent between 2021 and 2025, with roughly 1,750 registered incidents. Vulnerable sectors include healthcare, social services, public transport, retail, and administration. AUVA Prevention Director Caroline Krammer noted that official figures likely underrepresent the problem because they only capture physical violence resulting in sick leave, leaving a “high suspected dark number” of unreported psychological violence, verbal abuse, and sexual harassment. In Greece, the Independent Labour Inspection Authority has announced a zero-tolerance policy to address a 43 percent increase in labour dispute applications related to violence and harassment recorded in 2025. Data shows that 79 percent of these incidents involved psychological or verbal abuse, and 73 percent occurred within hierarchical relationships. There has also been a noted increase in complaints from women and workers aged 25 to 34. Recent data further specifies that the percentage of women identified as perpetrators has reached 38%. To combat these trends, the authority’s dedicated department, led by Georgia Vazaki, has shifted toward a proactive prevention and education strategy. This includes providing advisory support to labour inspectors and issuing preventive information to approximately 2,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in the tourism, hospitality, and retail sectors. In 2025, 271 labour regulations incorporating prevention policies were submitted, with significant activity noted in Attica, Central Macedonia, Crete, and the Aegean.

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