Employers have clear legal obligations to prevent threats and violence towards you at work. These hazards should be tackled in the same way as any other risk you face at work.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines violence at work as: 'Any incident in which an employee is abused, threatened or assaulted by a member of the public in the course of their employment'.
There are 5 pieces of health and safety legislation that cover violence at work:
For official advice and publications, including guidance for employers, see the HSE web pages on violence in the workplace.
Employers may also owe you duties under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
Employers are also obliged to protect you from harassment, including harassment by third parties such as customers or other members of the public, where the reason for the harassment is protected by the Equality Act 2010. (Note, however, that the Coalition Government is consulting on the withdrawal of the employer’s obligation to protect you from harassment by third parties at your workplace).
The Equality Act 2010 protects you against harassment and victimisation because of sex, sexual orientation, trans-sexuality, marriage, civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, race, nationality, disability, religion and belief, and age. In Northern Ireland, protection extends to harassment and victimisation on grounds of political opinion.
24 Feb 2012: When do you start getting paid?
The Interns: Getting treated like a dogsbody?