Violence in the workplace: Gender similarities and differences

Abstract

Mass media, business, security, and government publications routinely highlight the incidents of workplace violence, yet little research has examined these incidents for gender similarities and differences. Using data from the 1992–1996 National Crime Victimization Survey, it is found that gender differences, more so than similarities, are characteristic of workplace violence. Specific types of jobs placed females more at risk of experiencing a violent incident than males in the same types of jobs: more robberies were committed against females employed at teaching institutions and in law enforcement and retail, and more simple assaults were committed against females in law enforcement and the transportation professions. In those incidents where an injury occurred, females lost more time from work. Several explanations for these results and directions for future research are offered.