Workplace Violence

Homicide in the Workplace

Since 1994, homicide in the workplace has steadily declined. In 2014, homicide accounted for almost 10% of all fatal 

workplace injuries, a 62% decrease from 1994. As a proportion of all fatal occupational injuries, homicide totals have fallen 

nearly 8%. In 2014, firearm-related workplace homicides accounted for 75% of all workplace homicides. Firearm-related 

workplace homicides have decreased 67% since 1994, from 943 to 307 in 2014.B

Did You Know?

From 2005 – 2009, 46.7% of victims of 

nonfatal violent victimization in the 

workplace reported their victimization to 

the police, compared to 51.5% of nonworkplace victims.C

87% of people victimized in the workplace 

from 2005 – 2009 were not injured, 

compared to 71% of non-workplace 

victims.C

2017 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Resource Guide: Crime and Victimization Fact Sheets

Workplace violence is defined as violence or the threat of violence directed at someone on duty or at work. Following 

a series of high-profile events, workplace violence has been recognized as an organizational, community, and societal 

issue. While workplace violence ranges from physical assault to robbery to homicide, the most common form of workplace violence is simple assault. Simple assault is defined by the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) as an 

attack, without a weapon, that results in no or minor injuries (i.e., cuts, scratches, black eyes, or any injury requiring less 

than two days in the hospital). Compared to violence outside the workplace, workplace violence is fairly rare; however, 

given the amount of time that Americans spend at work, it is an important subset of crime.

In 2014, 68 women and 341 men were victims of homicide in the workplace. Of these women, 32% were killed by a relative 

or a domestic partner, compared to 2% of the men; 34% of the women were killed by a robber, compared to 21% of the men; 

and 16% were killed by a coworker or work associate, compared to 15% of men.B

Number of Homicides in the WorkplaceB

1994 1996 1998 2002 2006 2008 2012

1,500

2000 2004 2010 2014

0

500

1000

1500

1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Homicides in the Workplace

Homicides

1,080

409

0

500

1000

1500

199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014

Homicide in the workplace, by shooting or other

Homicide, Shooting Other Homicides

Victims of Homicide in the WorkplaceB

by method of homicide

1994 1996 1998 2002 2006 2008 2012

1,500

2000 2004 2010 2014

Other method

Shooting

Victims of Homicide in the WorkplaceB

by sex and assailant type

32

16

2

12

1

15

10

Relative or 

domestic 

partner

Student, 

patient, or 

customer/

client

Inmate, 

detainee, 

or suspect 

not yet 

apprehended

Coworker 

or work 

associate

Unspecified 

Assailant

Robber

21

34 27

18

50%

12

Men

Women
SOURCES

A Vaughan Bowie, Bonnie S. Fisher, and Cary L. Cooper, eds., Workplace Violence: Issues, Trends, Strategies, (New York: Willan, 2005)

B Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 1994-

2014, (U.S. Department of Labor); https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/

work_hom.pdf, www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/work_homicide.pdf, www.bls.

gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfch0013.pdf

C Bureau of Justice Statistics, Workplace Violence 1993 -2009, (U.S. Department of Justice), www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/wv09.pdf

Individuals who are unemployed have much higher rates of 

simple assault and serious violent victimization (including 

rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) than employed 

individuals who are attacked in the workplace. Similarly, 

rates for simple assault and serious violent victimization of 

employed individuals outside the workplace are also higher 

than the rates in the workplace.C

Between 2005 and 2009, men were more likely to be 

victimized in the workplace by a stranger while women were 

more likely to be victimized by someone they knew.C

The majority of violence in the workplace is against 

white workers, who experience 78% of workplace 

violent victimization and 66% of non-workplace violent 

victimization. Black or African American workers experience 

9% of violent victimization in the workplace and 13% of nonworkplace violent victimization. Hispanic/Latino workers 

experience 8% of violent workplace victimization and 15% of 

non-workplace violent victimization.C

Current Data on Nonfatal Workplace Violence

Some occupations, including law enforcement or mental 

health professionals, are at a greater risk for violence in the 

workplace. Law enforcement officers have the highest rate of 

workplace violence, followed by mental health professionals. 

In contrast, individuals in many fields have a greater rate of 

victimization outside the workplace.C

Non-Workplace ViolenceC

by race and ethnicity

White (66%)

Black or African American (13%)

Hispanic/Latino (15%)

Asian or Pacific Islander (2%)

American Indian (1%)

2+ races (3%)

Nonworkplace Violence, by race and ethnicity

hite Hispanic/Latino Black/African American

ain/Pacific Islander American Indian

Workplace ViolenceC

by race and ethnicity

White (78%)

Black or African American (9%)

Hispanic/Latino (8%)

Asian or Pacific Islander (3%)

American Indian (1%) 

2+ races (1%)

Workplace violence, by race and ethnicity

White

Black/African American

Hispanic/Latino

Asain/Pacific Islander

American Indian

Two or more races

Victim/Offender RelationshipC

by sex

25.5

0.6 0.8

40.9

52.9

8.5 11.7

Stranger Work 

relationship

Acquaintance

(well-known/

casual)

Other 

relative

Intimate 

partner

Unknown

31.7

18.9

0.7 1.7

6.1

60%

Men

Women

10.2

4

10.1

Non-workplace, 

unemployed

Non-workplace, 

employed

Workplace

15

Violence by Type of Crime and LocationC

rate per 1,000 people 

6.5

6.3

1.1

Serious violent 

victimization

Simple assault

3

17

15

50

9

8

7

24

12

7

13

Law Enforcement

Mental Health

Transportation

Retail Sales

Medical

Teaching

Other/Unspecified

48

21

Violence by Type of Crime and Field of EmploymentC

rate per 1,000 people 

14

17

Non-workplace, 

nonfatal

Workplace, nonfatal