Unions are demanding enhanced protection for workers after new research revealed the alarming extent of violence and abuse they face in the workplace.
A Trades Union Congress (TUC) survey of 5,000 employees found that four in five have experienced some form of abuse or violence in the last year.
This ranged from physical assaults and threats to sexual harassment.
The issue spans sectors including education, transport, health, local government, and prisons.
More than half of respondents reported weekly or more frequent incidents, perpetrated by customers, the public, colleagues or managers.
Underreporting remains a significant problem.
Half of those who did not report incidents believed it was “part of the job”, while one in three felt their concerns would not be taken seriously.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “It doesn’t matter what you do for a living – violence at work is never ‘part of the job’.
“Nobody should go to work fearing for their safety, but that is the reality for thousands of our vital frontline workers.
“The Tories left the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) in tatters and left the current government cleaning up their mess, but ministers must reinvest in the HSE, so we have more inspectors visiting workplaces and enforcing safety rules.”
Ruth Wilkinson, of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, said: “Under health and safety law, employers have a duty to protect staff from work-related violence. This starts with assessing where the risks lie, considering both psychological and physical threats.
“We want to see organisations put robust controls in place to prevent violence and aggression, provide training to staff, and ensure anyone targeted knows how to report it and get support.”
