Half of British workforce ill-treated

One million Britons experienced workplace violence in the last two years, while millions more were subjected to intimidation, humiliation and rudeness, new research has shown. Surprisingly, managers and professionals in well-paid full-time jobs are among the groups most at risk. The study also shows that conventional employment policies are failing to deal with workplace ill-treatment. The research, by the School of Social Sciences and Plymouth Business School, is based on face-to-face s with nearly 4,000 employees who were representative of the British workforce. Key findings included: 4.9 per cent had suffered violence in the workplace - the equivalent of more than 1 million workers - with 3.8 per cent injured as a result Almost 30 per cent complained of impossible deadlines and unmanageable workloads Nearly a quarter had been shouted at or experienced someone losing their temper 13.3 per cent had been intimidated by somebody in the workplace The study shows that violence is a more regular feature of working life than previously thought. Assault was a daily experience for 13 per cent of those who reported violence. Most of the attackers came from outside the workplace, with 72 per cent of assailants being customers, clients or members of the public.