Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, health professionals have experienced a dramatic surge in workplace violence, significantly outpacing the proportions seen in other industries. This troubling trend has serious financial consequences, including increased healthcare costs, contributing to increased anxiety, depression and burnout among healthcare workers.
A recent healthcare workplace violence survey conducted by Seth Bader Law's Bader Law highlights this escalating issue and brings attention to both the emotional and financial impacts faced by healthcare workers.
The findings reveal deeper things about reality.
In the second quarter of 2022 alone, more than 5,200 nursing staff were victims of workplace assaults, carrying out an average of around 57 attacks each day. This incredible frequency shows just how vulnerable the people serving on the healthcare frontlines are.
Furthermore, the wider range of workplace harassment doubled the prevalence within the health sector. Reports of harassment by healthcare workers have increased dramatically from just 6% in 2018 to an astounding 13% in 2022. This important spike reflects a rapidly deteriorating work environment and is affected by the stress of a pandemic state, increased patient frustration, and strained medical resources.
Perhaps most disturbingly, the total number of non-fatal and intentional injuries sustained by healthcare workers and technical staff reached an astounding 8,590 incidents in 2022. Healthcare workers are responsible for almost half of the unreported non-fatal workplace violence, despite representing only 10% of the total workforce.
Seth Bader highlighted the severity of these findings, saying, “The data in this study highlights the urgent need for healthcare agencies to deal with rampant violence against workers. Medical professionals account for 48% of non-fatal injuries from workplace violence.
Emotional impact on healthcare workers
That meaning goes far beyond physical injuries. Intensifying violence and harassment within health facilities is fuel insecurity and depression among employees, causing existing burnout and contributing to labor shortages. The emotional tension experienced by healthcare workers inevitably affects their ability to provide quality patient care and thus exacerbates the vicious cycle of stress and dissatisfaction.
The economic impact is also escalating. Healthcare providers are facing rising costs associated with strengthening security measures designed to protect employees from physical assault and verbal abuse. The industry has seen a noticeable surge in spending on protection measures, security personnel and safety training programs.
At the same time, the frequency of workplace violence cases led to a significant increase in workers' compensation claims, thus boosting the premium costs of healthcare employers. The ghost of expensive litigation adds to the financial burden as facilities need to tackle potential litigation resulting from inadequate safeguards and workplace violence cases.
Legislative measures and protection
Recognizing the seriousness of the issue, legislators at both state and federal levels were taking decisive action. Many states have already enacted strict laws aimed at protecting healthcare workers from assault, and have implemented stricter penalties for perpetrators of violence in healthcare settings.
On the federal front, legislators are actively pursuing enhanced protection. Currently, two important bills are progressing during the committee phase. These bills propose strict penalties for individuals convicted of assaulting a healthcare worker, with the sentences likely to last 20 years. Such legislative efforts could possibly send a clear message about the serious consequences of assaulting a medical professional, ideally deterring future incidents.
Addressing workplace violence in healthcare requires a multifaceted approach, combining strict laws, improved institutional support, comprehensive staff training, and enhanced security measures. These collaborative efforts allow healthcare institutions to strive to create a safer and supportive environment, allowing those who are dedicated to caring for others to fulfill their important duties without fear of personal safety.
