Fixed-term work and violence at work

Abstract

Objectives. This study investigated the effect of a fixed-term job contract on encounters of violence at work. We assumed that fixed-term employees encountered more violence or threats of violence at their work than permanent employees. Methods. This study is based on 3 large statistical data sets: (a) the Work and Health surveys carried out by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in 1997–2006 (n = 7 519); (b) the so-called Victim study carried out by Statistics Finland in 2006, where 4 088 working people were interviewed about victimization resulting in injuries and violence; and (c) another study from Statistics Finland, which interviewed 4 392 wage-earners about their working conditions in 2008. Results. One of the 3 data sets showed that fixed-term employees encountered more violence at work than permanent employees, whereas the other 2 did not show any difference between different contract groups. Conclusions. Our hypothesis concerning greater violence encounters among fixed-term employees was not confirmed. © 2010, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.