This guide has been developed by the International Labour Office (ILO) Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ACT/EMP), Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Branch (GEDI) and the Labour Administration, Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health Branch (LABADMIN/OSH), to provide practical guidance to member companies on how to address, prevent and respond to violence and harassment in the world of work.

This guide focuses on the general principles in the prevention and management of violence and harassment at work, with reference to the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention (No. 190) and its accompanying Recommendation (No. 206), 2019. It aims to enable enterprises to better control the risks and minimize the negative impacts that violence and harassment brings to the workplace. It includes, among others, guidance on what is considered violence and harassment in the world of work, examples of common violence and harassment at work, legal framework and employers’ responsibilities, why employers need to take action, how to address, prevent and respond to violence and harassment including by developing and implementing enterprise-level policy, as well as risk management with sharing of good practices and examples.

The guide is designed to be easily adapted to national circumstances, and reflect local legislations, policies and realities. It is particularly useful for staff in human resources, occupational safety and health (OSH), or employee relations and well-being that have responsibilities in managing hazards and risks and ensuring the workforce is safe and healthy.