Any act of threat, physical violence, or emotional abuse is considered workplace violence. The statistics of workplace violence paint a grim picture. According to recent labor statistics, millions of Americans suffer from workplace violence injuries every year, ranging from minor incidents to life-altering consequences. Such incidents can lead to serious injuries that can have a long-lasting impact on the victims and their families. Among these, fatal occupational injuries and workplace homicides represent some of the most tragic outcomes of workplace violence.
Certain professions, such as health care professionals and social assistance workers, face a higher risk of physical assaults due to the nature of their work environments. The increasing prevalence of physical violence against healthcare professionals has sparked a need for specialized workplace violence prevention strategies. These strategies aim to reduce the frequency and severity of such incidents while ensuring a safer environment for all employees.
In the healthcare sector specifically, the focus on reducing workplace violence injuries has become paramount, as healthcare professionals often encounter challenging situations that can escalate into violent episodes. Efforts to mitigate these risks include training, emergency protocols, and policies tailored to protect workers in high-risk settings. By prioritizing workplace violence prevention strategies, employers can help create a secure atmosphere for employees, reducing the incidence of fatal occupational injuries and ensuring the well-being of their workforce.
Types of Workplace Violence
Workplace violence could be a result of criminal acts committed by an outsider such as trespassing or robbery. Violence can also take place between customers and clients. The perpetrator of the violence can also be an employee or past employee who attacks an existing employee at the workplace. In some cases, workplace violence is a result of personal relationships, where a perpetrator is not related to the workplace but has a relationship with the victim.
When most think of workplace violence, they imagine an incident that resulted in physical harm. However, workplace violence can also include bullying, intimidation, verbal abuse, and more. Here are the types of workplace violence:
- Harassment including sexual assault
- Physical attack
- Concealing or using a weapon
- Verbal abuse or threats
- Bullying
- Stalking
- Intimidation
General Statistics for Workplace Violence
According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, more than 20,000 workers in the private industry experienced some physical or emotional trauma in acts of non-fatal workplace violence in 2020. As is the case with most workplace accidents, the injured victims had to spend days away from work, reducing the overall productivity of the workplace. Around 22% required 31 or more days away from work to recover from the workplace violence incident. The statistics also highlight that the victims were mostly females (73%) and aged between 25 to 54 (62%). The high percentage of workplace violence was in the social assistance and healthcare industry.
Unfortunately, workplace violence can also lead to fatalities. The statistics show that 392 U.S. workers were victims of workplace homicide in 2020. The victims of such crimes were mostly men (81%) and aged between 25 to 44 (44%). The demographic statistics for such incidents highlight that Black (28%) and Hispanic (18%) were the most common victims. The highest percentage of fatal workplace violence incidents happened in retail-related tasks such as working at retail counters or waiting on customers.
Industry Statistics
Healthcare remains one of the most dangerous industries due to a high percentage of workplace violence. Healthcare and social service workers are at an increased risk factors of suffering injuries due to workplace violence. Around 69% of healthcare workers have to endure physical abuse and 71% have to face non-physical assaults based on reported data.
The Government Accountability Office (GOA) reported that 15 million healthcare workers in the U.S. faced workplace violence. It’s not only the workers that are impacted by violence, businesses also have to face billions of dollars in losses due to such incidents.
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organisations reports that $250 to $350 billion are lost to annual losses every year. This is a result of staff injuries, time off work, lawsuits, loss of customers, loss of productivity, and damaged business reputation.
Impact of Corporate Policy on Workplace Violence
Around 55% of employees claim that they were unaware of the emergency plans for workplace violence. This means that the majority of workers were not prepared for workplace violence. A surprisingly high number of employees (24%) say they were not even sure if any such programs even existed at their workplace.
A common type of workplace violence is an active shooter on the premises. Nearly 80% of companies believe an active shooter is a major threat and 79% of the businesses believe they are not prepared to handle such a threat. The majority do not run any drills or offer training for such an event.
Role of a Workers Compensation Attorney
If you were injured while working, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your losses through a workers’ compensation claim. An experienced attorney can assess your case to determine your eligibility for a workers’ compensation claim and guide you on steps to recovering compensation. In many cases, workplace incidents involve workplace violence, including physical assaults, which can lead to serious injuries or even fatal occupational injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, incidents of workplace violence experienced by employees, particularly in high-risk sectors like healthcare, are on the rise.
A workers’ compensation lawyer can negotiate an out-of-court settlement; however, if that does not work, they can also represent you at a hearing or in a trial. For a successful outcome, you need strong evidence, and the attorney can assist you in gathering evidence. For example, they can demonstrate how healthcare workers accounted for a significant portion of workplace injuries due to workplace violence. Understanding the risk factors for violence, particularly in roles involving direct contact with the public, such as healthcare professionals, is essential in building a strong case. Attorneys can also help prepare all the required documents for the legal processes.
Addressing workplace violence claims requires a comprehensive approach, including identifying and mitigating risk factors, advocating for safe and healthy workplaces, and ensuring employers follow safety protocols. Attorneys play a crucial role in helping injured employees navigate legal complexities, especially in cases involving healthcare professionals focus.
Getting all this done while recovering from an injury can be challenging, so consider involving an attorney as early as possible in the legal proceedings. This will allow them to have maximum impact on your case.
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