Coworker violence and gender: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey Original Research Article

Background: To further the understanding of coworker violence, we analyzed data from the National Violence Against Women (NVAW) Survey on the prevalence and characteristics of coworker violence among women and men, and compared the prevalence of coworker violence with violence perpetrated by other types of perpetrators. Methods: The NVAW Survey was conducted during November 1995–May 1996 and consists of telephone interviews with a representative sample of 8000 U.S. women and 8000 U.S. men aged ≥18 years about their experiences as victims of violence by all types of perpetrators, including coworkers. Results: Lifetime coworker victimization rates varied significantly between women and men (1.1% and 2.3%, respectively), while annual victimization rates were the same (0.1%). Both women and men were more likely to be victimized by a stranger, intimate partner, or other type of acquaintance/family member than a coworker. Women victims of coworker violence were significantly more likely than their men counterparts to be raped or stalked, and significantly less likely to be physically assaulted. No significant differences were found between female and male coworker violence victims with respect to race, age, education, or rate of injury; however, female victims were significantly more likely to lose time from work as a result of their victimization and to report their victimization to the police. Conclusions: An estimated 1.1 million U.S. women and 2.3 million U.S. men have ever been victimized by a current or former coworker, while 100,697 U.S. women and 92,748 U.S. men are victimized by a current or former coworker annually.