A survey conducted by Forsa reveals that one in three employees in Germany has experienced insults or aggression at work, with 12% reporting incidents of mockery, bullying, or slander.
Around 6% have faced psychologically abusive behavior of a sexualized nature, including inappropriate gestures or comments.
The findings show that healthcare workers, social workers, and civil servants are particularly affected, with more than a third of employees in sectors such as transportation, retail, and education also reporting such experiences. Women are disproportionately targeted, experiencing verbal and psychological sexualized violence more frequently than men.
Psychologist Anna Hookshall emphasizes that corporate culture plays a key role in addressing workplace aggression. “If a company clearly communicates that violence in any form is unacceptable, it empowers employees to feel more confident in addressing these issues,” she explained.
Some German companies are adopting preventive measures, including training sessions and offering initial psychological support, to tackle workplace aggression and foster safer environments for their employees.
