Workplace Violence 5x More Likely in the Healthcare Industry Since the Pandemic

Healthcare workers are facing an alarming rise in workplace violence, driving up healthcare costs, workers’ compensation claims, and exacerbating anxiety, depression, and burnout among staff.

In response to this growing crisis, Seth Bader of Bader Law has conducted a groundbreaking study on healthcare workplace violence and its financial and emotional toll on healthcare workers. Key findings from the study include:

• More than 5,200 nursing personnel were assaulted in the second quarter of 2022, averaging about 57 assaults per day.

• The number of healthcare workers reporting workplace harassment doubled from 6% in 2018 to 13% in 2022.

• In 2022, healthcare practitioners and technical employees accounted for 8,590 nonfatal intentional injuries.

“The data from this study underscores the urgent need for healthcare institutions to address the rampant violence against their workers. With healthcare professionals making up only 10% of the workforce but experiencing 48% of nonfatal injuries due to workplace violence, the financial and emotional toll is staggering,” said Seth Bader.

Among the rising costs, healthcare providers are increasing their spending on security measures to protect employees from assaults and verbal abuse. This surge in violence is also leading to a spike in workers’ compensation claims, driving up premium costs and exposing employers to the threat of costly lawsuits.

Legislators are taking notice of this growing issue at both state and federal levels. Numerous states have enacted laws that provide additional protections for healthcare workers facing assaults, imposing stricter penalties. At the federal level, two bills currently in committee aim to enhance worker protections and increase penalties for assaults on healthcare workers, with potential sentences of up to 20 years in some cases.

Healthcare workers are facing an alarming rise in workplace violence, driving up healthcare costs, workers’ compensation claims, and exacerbating anxiety, depression, and burnout among staff.

In response to this growing crisis, Seth Bader of Bader Law has conducted a groundbreaking study on healthcare workplace violence and its financial and emotional toll on healthcare workers. Key findings from the study include:

• More than 5,200 nursing personnel were assaulted in the second quarter of 2022, averaging about 57 assaults per day.

• The number of healthcare workers reporting workplace harassment doubled from 6% in 2018 to 13% in 2022.

• In 2022, healthcare practitioners and technical employees accounted for 8,590 nonfatal intentional injuries.

“The data from this study underscores the urgent need for healthcare institutions to address the rampant violence against their workers. With healthcare professionals making up only 10% of the workforce but experiencing 48% of nonfatal injuries due to workplace violence, the financial and emotional toll is staggering,” said Seth Bader.

Among the rising costs, healthcare providers are increasing their spending on security measures to protect employees from assaults and verbal abuse. This surge in violence is also leading to a spike in workers’ compensation claims, driving up premium costs and exposing employers to the threat of costly lawsuits.

Legislators are taking notice of this growing issue at both state and federal levels. Numerous states have enacted laws that provide additional protections for healthcare workers facing assaults, imposing stricter penalties. At the federal level, two bills currently in committee aim to enhance worker protections and increase penalties for assaults on healthcare workers, with potential sentences of up to 20 years in some cases.