Threats and violence within the workplace : A study about the employers legal obligations to prevent threats and violence within health and social care

In Sweden, threats and violence has become a serious psychosocial work environment problem within the workplaces of health and social care. Several studies show the need to pay attention to how the workers psychosocial work environment is affected by the risk of threats and violence. Women are more exposed of threats and violence because the professions were most women work, the threats and violence occur. The purpose of this study is to investigate what legal obligations the employer holds to prevent threats and violence in the working environment and what consequences it can have if the employer does not fulfill these obligations. For a deeper knowledge in threats and violence as a psychosocial work environment problem other factors that can affect are included. To fulfill the purpose and answer the research questions in this study the doctrinal method is used to describe, systematize and interpret the legislation, case law and literature. The results of this study show that the legal actions that the employer is obliged to take is far-reaching. The preventive work is central considering the psychosocial work environment were threats and violence occur. If the employer fails to take the actions that is obliged there are different legal consequences depending on what type of actions the employer, deliberately or accidently, failed to take. Due to the extent of threats and violence in health and social care and some differences in the formulation of the legislation, future studies would be required to investigate if the legislation on this matter is enough