From Threats to Scars: Who does HR go to? Understanding Workplace Violence Towards HR Professionals

Purpose: This dissertation will focus on understanding and exploring workplace violence towards HR professionals and evaluate current safeguarding measures to identify its adequacy, following the rise of violence towards HR professionals. The research will also explore the implications experiencing workplace violence towards mental health. This was undertaken following the identified gaps in literature supporting this topic. Therefore, the following research question was formulated: “Is safeguarding adequate within the private HR sector when experiencing Workplace Violence?”. Methodology: Mixed-methods research was used to explore this research. The participant data used for the analysis was collected through both closed and open-ended surveys. Data collected from participants was analysed using content and descriptive statistics analysis. Key Findings: Based on the review of findings, the researcher can demonstrate that there is a prevalence of WPV towards HR professionals in the private sector. From the 19 participants that partook in the survey, the findings indicated that HR professionals who experience WPV, exist in a microcosm of organisational culture. Additionally, safeguarding measures within the HR private sector is not adequate to safeguard HR professionals, rendering them vulnerable. Implications: This study raises awareness and outlines workplace violence towards HR professionals and addresses a literature review gap that was identified. The existing literature and collected data suggest a need for viable business changes to adequately safeguard HR professionals. These recommendations consist of workplace violence policies, implementation of workplace violence and manager training, increase employee engagement and build organisation trust and finally, implement mental health and wellbeing support systems for HR professionals to engage with, following workplace violence incidences. Conclusion: The research question to answer was “Is safeguarding adequate within the private HR sector when experiencing Workplace Violence?”. The answer based on this study is no, safeguarding is not adequate within the private sector to safeguard HR professionals. Although WPV is prevalent within the HR sector, more research is needed within this field for a definitive answer as there is a lack of research and literature gaps.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

ma

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Stacey, Dionne

• HF Masnach

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:3669