Occupational Violence/Bullying in Public Service Organisations

By C Mayhew and P McCarthy

The risks of occupational violence and bullying for public sector workers in Australia.

The experiences of public servants is important for 4 reasons:

1. Commonwealth, state and territory workers together form the largest group of Australian workers

2. The public sector has been at the forefront of prevention efforts

3. Because the salary of public servants is transferred from the public purse, all taxpayers have an interest (whether they recognise this or not) in reducing the expenses associated with exposure to overt and covert aggression at work

4. Significant international initiatives are underway which are likely to be implemented first in larger organisations, such as public service bureaucracies

(CCH Journal of Occupational Health and Safety in Australia and New Zealand; vol. 21, no. 1, February 2005. pp33-42)