Violence in the public service: Official employees often exposed to insults

Many public service employees, according to their own statements, are exposed to insults, threats or public defamation via the Internet. In their everyday life, 13 percent of employees were directly affected by so -called digital violence. This is shown by a Forsa survey on behalf of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), which is available to the German Press Agency.

Violence against employees in the police, in orders and social offices, in job centers, schools, hospitals or in bus and train had become “everyday life”, explains the DGB about the problem in Berlin on the occasion of a conference. According to the survey, a third of the employees have already observed or experienced that colleagues were attacked online.

Worries widespread among employees

Be it by email or on social networks: Almost a third of the public service employees are therefore concerned about becoming victims of such attacks and hostility.

Insults and insults are most frequently mentioned by affected employees, so threats also happen again and again. A small percentage even reports on public defamation. Almost two thirds do not know their workplace for such cases.

Consequences for those affected

Anyone who has experienced such things or fears that they behave differently or have the experience. According to the survey, many describe themselves as more careful groups of people or reports of dwindling concentration or emotional stress. Few take the step to secure evidence or even go to the police.

The deputy DGB chairman Elke Hannack spoke of an “alarm signal”: “Digital violence causes damage far beyond the actual incident and affects the work ability of those affected in the long term.” Hannack called for early countermeasures. Digital violence must be opposed as well as physical attacks.

Every third citizen has observed attacks

The civil survey of the 2025 of the DBB civil servant Association had already focused on the topic. Accordingly, 30 percent of Germans state that they have already observed attacks on publicly employees – that is, they have been hindered, harassed, insulted or attacked. This proportion has increased slightly compared to previous years.

Program DGB conference DGB for violence against employees DBB to violence against employees (link to special part)