根据新西兰最新研究，社区护理、心理健康、成瘾和残障服务的支持工作者中，近80%经历过某种形式的职场暴力[1]。其中，85.3%的受访者遭遇过心理暴力，包括欺凌、威胁、恐吓或言语虐待[1]；72.5%从同事或管理人员处经历过心理虐待[1]；67.9%从客户或客户家属处经历过身体暴力，27.1%从同事或管理人员处遭遇身体暴力[1]。此外，51.4%的受访者报告经历过性骚扰，40.8%经历过性暴力[1]。
研究还发现少数族裔员工面临更多困境——47.2%的毛利族工作者和59.6%其他族裔工作者报告遭遇针对族裔的心理暴力[1]。
暴力环境对这些工作者的身心健康造成严重影响。近一半受访者报告长期焦虑或抑郁，超四分之一报告睡眠或饮食困难[1]。令人担忧的是，超过半数受访者表示被期待将职场暴力容忍视为工作的一部分[1]。
培训与支持不足进一步加剧了问题。44.4%的受访者表示新员工未获得具体培训应对暴力情况，53.3%缺乏复训[1]。国际上职场暴力的经济成本估计每年超过500亿美元[1]。研究呼吁建立零容忍的职场暴力文化，并加强员工培训和雇主支持[1]。
A recent New Zealand study reveals that nearly 80% of support workers in community care, mental health, addiction, and disability services have experienced some form of workplace violence.[1] The research documents the disturbing prevalence of such incidents across multiple categories of abuse, with 85.3% of respondents reporting psychological violence such as bullying, threats, intimidation, or verbal abuse.[1] Physical violence affected 67.9% of workers, predominantly perpetrated by clients or their family members, while 27.1% experienced physical assault from colleagues or management.[1] Sexual harassment and assault also emerged as significant concerns, affecting 51.4% and 40.8% of respondents respectively.[1]
The findings expose systemic vulnerabilities in workplace safety protocols and organizational support. Among surveyed workers, 72.5% experienced psychological abuse from colleagues or managers, while racially motivated psychological violence was reported by 47.2% of Māori workers and 59.6% of other ethnic groups.[1] Training deficiencies compound these challenges, with 44.4% of respondents indicating that new employees receive no specific training on workplace violence, and 53.3% lacking refresher courses.[1] More than half of workers surveyed believed they were expected to tolerate violence as an inherent part of their role.[1]
The human toll manifests in widespread mental health consequences, with nearly half of respondents reporting chronic anxiety or depression, and over a quarter experiencing sleep or eating difficulties.[1] The study calls for a zero-tolerance culture toward workplace violence, coupled with enhanced employee training and stronger employer support systems.[1] Globally, workplace violence carries an estimated annual economic cost exceeding $50 billion.[1]
