Sector-specific information on violence and stress A Meeting of Experts organized by the ILO’s Sectoral Activities Programme from 8 to 15 October 2003 adopted a Code of Practice on Workplace Violence in Services Sectors and Measures to Combat this Phenomenon. In services sectors, downsizing, freezes or cuts in salaries, increasing workloads and performance targets, longer hours, and more subcontracting and temporary work are potential stressors that can foster a climate of tension leading to work stress and workplace violence. Negative effects on the performance and efficiency of organizations include increased sick leave, absenteeism and turnover, lower quality of service, productivity and motivation, and professional dissatisfaction. Measures to be taken include preventive action on violence and stress, legal and medical assistance to staff who are victims of violence; legislation and practical measures to sanction violent acts; and community or national campaigns to spotlight and reduce sources of violence in services. The ILO Sectoral Fact Sheets and sectoral working papers provide further information on violence and stress in specific services sectors or subsectors.

Meeting of Experts, 8-15 October 2003 Meeting information Code of Practice (pdf, 116k) Workplace Violence & Stress in the health services sector Framework guidelines for addressing workplace violence in the health sector (pdf, 777k) Workplace violence in the health sector: State of the Art (pdf, 392k) Workplace violence in the health sector – Country case studies: Brazil, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Portugal, South Africa, Thailand, plus additional Australian study: Synthesis Report (pdf, 325k) The relationship between work stress and workplace violence in the health sector (pdf, 500k) Working papers Workplace violence in service sectors with implications for the education sector: Issues, solutions and resources (pdf, 690k) Workplace violence and stress at work in financial services (pdf, 341k) Violence at work in hotels, catering and tourism (pdf, 644k) Violence and stress at work in the performing arts and in journalism (pdf, 138k) Violence and stress at work in the postal sector (pdf, 172k) Violence and stress at work in the transport sector (pdf, 233k) ILO Sectoral Fact Sheets Commerce Education Financial services; professional services Health services Hotels and catering Media and entertainment Postal services Public emergency services Transport

Additional links to information on violence and stress

InFocus Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment
- The Cost of Violence/Stress at Work and the Benefits of a Violence/Stress-Free Working Environment (pdf)
- SOLVE Programme

Chaire en gestion de la santé et de la sécurité du travail dans les organisations, Université Laval, Canada
- Violence au travail

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
- Report on Preventing violence and harassment in the workplace

Health and Safety Executive, United Kingdom
- Leaflet on Violence at work - A guide to employers
- Leaflets on Work-related stress

International Association of Chiefs of Police
- Combating Workplace Violence

International Federation of Journalists
- A Survival Guide for Journalists

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, United States
- Stress at work
- El estrés en el trabajo
- Occupational violence

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, United States
- Workplace violence awareness and prevention

Office of Special Education Programs, United States
- Code of Practice on Workplace Violence in Services Sectors