We launched our Violence at Work campaign this year due to continual issues arising surrounding violence in our public services, it became clear that something had to change. Fundamentally every employee deserves a safe and secure environment, free from violence and aggression. The alarming rise in assaults on our fellow workers is a pressing issue that demands our collective action. It’s time to rewrite the safety narrative together. You work hard to provide key services to your community, its time for your employer to keep you safe!
Facing the Stark Reality: Violence and aggression have become a major concern in council workplaces. Shockingly, assaults by members of the public or clients are a growing issue. The numbers are soaring. For example, in 2022, 727 violent incidents were reported in our authority, Over 80% of these incidents occurred in Schools and Nurseries. Just in the start of 2023, there were already 644 incidents reported. It’s important to note that these are only the reported cases – there’s a troubling culture of underreporting abuse and assault.
The Ongoing Consequences: Workplace injuries and the stress from incidents lead to employee absence, which not only affects the injured but also places added pressure on our hardworking colleagues. This stress has a ripple effect, resulting in challenges in managing our work, increased instances of lone working, and heightened risks of further issues.
What we’re doing: We’ve kicked our campaign off with an opening survey to allow us to accurately assess the problems facing our members and see where we can make the most difference. We’ve also arranged a series of workplace meetings and will be communicating further on these soon.
Stirling UNISON 