Violence and aggression in the workplace can have a devastating effect on employees, resulting in physical and psychological harm, increased absenteeism, low morale, decreased productivity, and a toxic work environment. The UK Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 place clear responsibilities on employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of their employees, including the prevention of violence and aggression.

Employment law also provides protection for employees who are subjected to violence or aggression in the workplace. This includes the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination, harassment, and victimization on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, gender, and disability. The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 also provides civil and criminal remedies for employees who are subjected to harassment or stalking.

Best practices for preventing violence and aggression in the workplace include risk assessments and the implementation of policies and procedures that address the issue. Employers should carry out regular risk assessments to identify potential hazards that could lead to violence or aggression, such as confrontational customers or patients, and take steps to eliminate or control the risks.

Employers should also implement a violence and aggression policy which outlines the company’s commitment to preventing violence and sets out clear procedures for responding to incidents if they occur. This should include training for employees on dealing with difficult and aggressive situations, as well as procedures for reporting incidents and providing support for affected employees.

Checklists can also be a useful tool for ensuring that all potential risks have been identified and addressed. The Health and Safety Executive provides a checklist for preventing violence and aggression in healthcare which can be adapted for other industries.

Despite these measures, however, violence and aggression in the workplace still occurs. In 2019, the Office for National Statistics reported a 20% increase in police-recorded incidents of violence and aggression at work, with health and social care workers being particularly at risk.

One high-profile case was that of Karen Reay, a nurse in Northumberland who was assaulted by a patient in 2015 and suffered a broken nose, black eye, and concussion. The patient had a history of violent behaviour and had not been appropriately risk-assessed. The incident led to a review of staff safety and the development of a violence and aggression policy for the hospital trust.

In another case, a security guard at a shopping centre in Kent was assaulted by a group of teenagers in 2017. The guard had raised concerns about the lack of lighting in the car park where the assault took place and had not been provided with suitable personal protective equipment. The shopping centre was subsequently fined £750,000 for a breach of health and safety regulations.