Two million nonfatal workplace violence incidents in the United States produce injuries that require time away from work or job changes. One in four workers report discomfort about raising harassment concerns. These patterns connect to average legal settlements of 1.2 million dollars, investigation costs from ten thousand to fifty thousand dollars per case, and widespread absenteeism.
Key Takeaways
- 2.0 million nonfatal workplace violence victimizations were reported in the U.S. in 2022 involving injuries requiring job restriction (days away or job transfer/restriction).
- 1 in 4 workers reported not feeling comfortable speaking up about harassment in a 2023 Microsoft Work Trend Index report.
- Harassment and discrimination claims can average $1.2 million per settlement in U.S. litigation, as reported in a 2020 study by Eversheds Sutherland (reported ranges in workplace investigations/legal analytics).
- A 2020 report estimated that employee relations investigations cost between $10,000 and $50,000 per incident depending on complexity (workplace investigations cost study).
- In 2021, the U.S. National Academies report estimated the cost of workplace bullying/harassment to be billions annually (economic burden modeling) with a range including $24.7B to $50.8B for U.S. workplace bullying costs (reported).
- In a 2021 survey by Gartner, 60% of HR leaders reported that harassment issues increase absenteeism.
- A 2018 U.S. study found that employees who experience harassment are 2.5x more likely to experience burnout symptoms (peer-reviewed occupational health research).
- A 2019 peer-reviewed meta-analysis reported that exposure to workplace harassment is associated with reduced job satisfaction (moderate negative effect) (Meta-analytic findings).
- In 2022, the ILO reported that 2 in 3 workers who experience harassment do not report the incident (global reporting gap metric).
- In 2019, a peer-reviewed study found that reporting rates for workplace harassment are around 15% to 35% depending on context (reviewed in paper).
- In 2023, Deloitte reported that 50% of respondents said they would leave a company due to toxic culture risks including harassment (culture and HR survey).
- 1 in 5 workers in the U.S. (20%) reported being sexually harassed in the workplace (2017 survey estimate).
- 27% of workers in the EU reported being subjected to harassment or intimidation at work (Eurofound workplace survey result).
- 23% of workers in the EU reported experiencing bullying at work at least once in the last 12 months (Eurofound estimate).
- 27% of employees who experienced bullying/harassment reported absenteeism (survey result).
Workplace harassment remains widespread, costly, and underreported, harming mental health, engagement, and productivity.
Related reading
01 · Category
Performance & Productivity6 stats
01
In a 2021 survey by Gartner, 60% of HR leaders reported that harassment issues increase absenteeism.
02
A 2018 U.S. study found that employees who experience harassment are 2.5x more likely to experience burnout symptoms (peer-reviewed occupational health research).
03
A 2019 peer-reviewed meta-analysis reported that exposure to workplace harassment is associated with reduced job satisfaction (moderate negative effect) (Meta-analytic findings).
04
A 2016 study in the journal ‘Work & Stress’ reported that workplace harassment predicts higher psychological distress (effect size reported in paper).
05
A 2020 Gallup workplace survey reported that 70% of employees who experience incivility/harassment disengage from work (engagement metrics).
06
2.0x higher risk of adverse mental health outcomes is associated with workplace harassment exposure in an occupational epidemiology study (relative risk reported).
Interpretation
Performance & Productivity Interpretation
From a performance and productivity angle, the data points to a clear hit on work output and engagement, with 70% of employees who experience incivility or harassment disengaging from work and Gartner reporting that 60% of HR leaders see harassment issues tied to higher absenteeism.
02 · Category
Cost Analysis4 stats
01
Harassment and discrimination claims can average $1.2 million per settlement in U.S. litigation, as reported in a 2020 study by Eversheds Sutherland (reported ranges in workplace investigations/legal analytics).
02
A 2020 report estimated that employee relations investigations cost between $10,000and $50,000 per incident depending on complexity (workplace investigations cost study).
03
In 2021, the U.S. National Academies report estimated the cost of workplace bullying/harassment to be billions annually (economic burden modeling) with a range including $24.7B to $50.8B for U.S. workplace bullying costs (reported).
04
An earlier U.S. estimate put workplace bullying costs at $20.1B annually (U.S. estimate reported in peer-reviewed literature).
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
The cost analysis shows that workplace harassment can quickly become financially overwhelming, with U.S. harassment and discrimination cases averaging $1.2 million per settlement and investigations running $10,000 to $50,000 per incident, while broader estimates peg the annual economic burden in the billions, including a $20.1B yearly figure for workplace bullying.
03 · Category
Industry Trends3 stats
01
In 2022, the ILO reported that 2 in 3 workers who experience harassment do not report the incident (global reporting gap metric).
02
In 2019, a peer-reviewed study found that reporting rates for workplace harassment are around 15% to 35% depending on context (reviewed in paper).
03
In 2023, Deloitte reported that 50% of respondents said they would leave a company due to toxic culture risks including harassment (culture and HR survey).
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry Trends point to a major reporting and retention problem, with the ILO estimating that 2 in 3 workers who experience harassment do not report it and Deloitte finding that 50% of respondents would leave a company due to toxic culture risks that include harassment.
More related reading
04 · Category
Prevalence Rates3 stats
01
1 in 5 workers in the U.S. (20%) reported being sexually harassed in the workplace (2017 survey estimate).
02
27% of workers in the EU reported being subjected to harassment or intimidation at work (Eurofound workplace survey result).
03
23% of workers in the EU reported experiencing bullying at work at least once in the last 12 months (Eurofound estimate).
Interpretation
Prevalence Rates Interpretation
Under the prevalence rates frame, harassment is common across regions, with 20% of U.S. workers reporting sexual harassment and 27% of EU workers reporting harassment or intimidation alongside 23% experiencing bullying in the past 12 months.
05 · Category
Impacts & Costs3 stats
01
27% of employees who experienced bullying/harassment reported absenteeism (survey result).
02
Workplace harassment is estimated to reduce labor productivity via absenteeism and turnover, and Eurofound reports that workplace violence and harassment are linked with loss of workdays (Eurofound assessment).
03
In a meta-analysis of workplace bullying, victims reported a moderate increase in depression symptoms with an effect size around d≈0.5 (as reported in the paper’s pooled estimates).
Interpretation
Impacts & Costs Interpretation
From an impacts and costs perspective, 27% of employees who experienced bullying or harassment reported absenteeism, and broader research links workplace harassment to reduced productivity and mental health effects such as a moderate increase in depression symptoms (effect size around d≈0.5), showing how harassment quickly turns into real workforce and wellbeing costs.
06 · Category
Industry Overview5 stats
01
The EU’s Work-Life Balance and similar frameworks treat harassment and discrimination as covered workplace risks under EU health and safety principles, and EU guidance states employers have a duty to prevent workplace harassment (directive-based compliance requirement; quantified compliance coverage across sectors is not consistently published).
02
France’s Labor Code framework defines moral harassment and provides protections; employers must take preventive measures, and France’s implementing guidance emphasizes prevention and training across workplaces (legal framework).
03
Germany’s General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) establishes employer obligations related to preventing and responding to discrimination and harassment; enforcement is supported by complaint procedures (statutory requirement with documented coverage).
04
2.0 million nonfatal workplace violence victimizations were reported in the U.S. in 2022 involving injuries requiring job restriction (days away or job transfer/restriction).
05
1 in 4 workers reported not feeling comfortable speaking up about harassment in a 2023 Microsoft Work Trend Index report.
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
Across the “Industry Overview” landscape, countries are increasingly treating harassment and discrimination as workplace health and safety risks while U.S. data shows 2.0 million nonfatal workplace violence victimizations in 2022, and surveys also find workers are often hesitant, with 1 in 4 saying they do not feel comfortable speaking up about harassment.
report visual · Comparison
Workplace Harassment Impact: Disengagement & Mental Health
Across surveys and studies, harassment/incivility is strongly linked to disengagement from work and higher mental health strain.
A 2019 peer-reviewed meta-analysis reported that exposure to workplace harassment is associated with reduced job satisfa2019
A 2016 study in the journal ‘Work & Stress’ reported that workplace harassment predicts higher psychological distress (e
2016
A 2020 Gallup workplace survey reported that 70% of employees who experience incivility/harassment disengage from work (
70%
source-verifiedgallup.com · tandfonline.com · psycnet.apa.org2020
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Catherine Wu. (2026, February 13). Workplace Harassment Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/workplace-harassment-statistics
MLA
Catherine Wu. "Workplace Harassment Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/workplace-harassment-statistics.
Chicago
Catherine Wu. 2026. "Workplace Harassment Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/workplace-harassment-statistics.
Sources & references
24 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+4 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)