More pressure, less respect: violence on the advance!

More pressure, less respect: violence on the advance!

Cafe Museum, Wien, Österreich - The pressure in retail increases and thus also violence against employees. According to [ots.at] (https://www.ots.at/presseaus-sung/ots_20250617_ots0093/aviso-gpa-press conference- Mehrer-Respekt-Gewalt-Im-Härt-Nimm-Spuertar-Zu report many employees report a conductive tone, pejorative jokes, harassment and even assault. The GPA union found in a survey that violence at work is widespread and is part of everyday work for many employees.

As part of a press conference on July 23, 2025, which is held by the GPA union, those responsible request more respect and protective measures for the trading employees. Barbara Teiber, the chairwoman of the GPA, and Sabine Grossensteiner, works council at Billa, will discuss the problems and solutions. The event takes place at 9:30 a.m. in the Café Museum in Vienna.

violence and aggression at the workplace

The GPA union has been increasingly confronted with the topic of violence and aggression at the workplace in the past two years, especially in the commercial and social industry. A survey of 1,000 employees of ourselves showed that over 60 % of employees indicate that high work pressure and lack of personnel act as conflict amplifiers. In the health and care sector as well as in trade, this number even increases to 70 %.

women and younger employees are disproportionately affected by verbal violence. Prevention measures such as training and supervision are more often carried out in companies with a works council. The employer is responsible for ensuring a secure working environment and implementing suitable protective measures. It is crucial that violence prevention is integrated into the planning of the work processes in order to take into account the specific circumstances and risks.

increasing violence attacks

The dangers in the workplace should not be underestimated. According to work inspection.gv.at, threats, harassment, discrimination and assault on employees increase. It is essential that employers take the risks of violent evaluations seriously and secure jobs accordingly. The risks in areas with direct customer contact are particularly high, such as in retail, gastronomy and healthcare.

In addition, violence in the work context also includes sexual harassment and bullying. Effective prevention requires clear rules of conduct and technical safety precautions. Those affected also receive help through advice centers and other support offers from the GPA union. Legal and individual advice are available on the website [gpa.at/icher-ohn-get-chalt.

The GPA also appeals to customers to counter the employees more respect. A violence situation at work can only be avoided through a common cooperation and creating a respectful working atmosphere.