The latest UNISON Scotland Annual Violence Survey presents an alarming increase in violent incidents against public service workers, revealing a deeply concerning reality. Across various sectors, workers continue to face daily threats, assaults, and abuse while simply doing their jobs—an unacceptable situation that requires urgent action from both employers and the government.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

In the year ending March 2024, 65,875 violent incidents were recorded, representing a staggering 20% increase from the previous year. This amounts to an average of 180 attacks per day, primarily targeting those on the frontline of public service delivery, including healthcare staff, local authority workers, and educators. The increase is particularly notable in Scotland’s largest health board, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, which accounted for a significant portion of this rise.

While the recorded figures are shocking, they are likely just the tip of the iceberg. UNISON believes that the true extent of violence faced by public service workers is severely underreported due to normalization of abuse, lack of confidence in reporting systems, and the pervasive attitude that violence is simply “part of the job”.

Schools and Local Authorities: Ground Zero for Violence

Local authorities, especially those within schools and nurseries, have become the most common sites for violent incidents. Over 40,000 incidents were reported within these environments, with education support staff bearing the brunt. Workers in social care and social work also continue to face high levels of violence, a trend that has persisted year after year. Despite the increase, reporting systems remain inconsistent across councils, with some local authorities failing to provide adequate breakdowns by job role or department.

Health Boards and NHS Staff: A Growing Crisis

Healthcare workers, particularly those within the NHS, continue to experience rising levels of violence. In 2024, 16,793 violent incidents were reported across NHS Scotland, a significant increase of 52% from the previous year. Despite this, many health boards still do not adequately track or report the sex or race of victims, hindering efforts to address violence against female staff or racially motivated abuse. This lack of comprehensive data limits the ability to develop targeted interventions, leaving vulnerable staff unprotected.

UNISON’s Call to Action

In a letter dated 15 September 2024, Matt McLaughlin, UNISON Scotland’s Regional Organiser and Head of Health, called on Neil Gray MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health, and Social Care, to take immediate and decisive action to protect healthcare workers. McLaughlin emphasized the urgent need for NHS employers to:

  1. Record and report the gender of staff who report workplace violence.
  2. Record and report the race of staff who report workplace violence.
  3. Take action on racially motivated violence in the workplace.
  4. Increase resources to support reporting and protecting staff.

McLaughlin’s letter highlighted the devastating impact of violence on NHS workers, with more than 50 incidents of violence being reported daily. He noted that this problem has been exacerbated by the strain on the NHS due to working beyond capacity, leading to frustration and anger among patients and their families.

Scottish Government’s Response

In response to UNISON’s concerns, Neil Gray MSP addressed the issues raised in a letter dated 17 October 2024. The Cabinet Secretary expressed his agreement with UNISON’s condemnation of violence and outlined the steps being taken to address the problem.

The Scottish Government, he explained, has been working closely with NHS Scotland and Police Scotland through the Your Safety Matters (YSM) External Partners Group to share good practices across agencies and raise awareness about workplace violence. He reiterated the importance of supporting staff in reporting violence and escalating serious incidents to the police. Additionally, Gray highlighted the government’s Equally Safe at Work (ESAW) programme, aimed at improving gender equality and preventing violence against women.

However, Gray acknowledged the need for better data collection on the protected characteristics of victims, including sex and race. He confirmed that Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is currently working on improving adverse event reporting systems, which will provide valuable data to help reduce violence against staff in the future.

Action Needed: Holding Employers Accountable

UNISON’s 2024 report highlights that many public service employers are not taking violence seriously enough. Freedom of Information (FoI) requests reveal that several employers are either not collecting data on violent incidents or are reluctant to disclose the extent of the problem. This failure to comply with legal obligations under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 not only breaches the law but shows an unwillingness to prioritize staff safety.

It is clear that stronger action is needed. UNISON has called on the Scottish Government to enforce stricter reporting requirements, particularly around gender and race, and to compel employers to actively support workers who report incidents. Employers must ensure that reporting systems are accessible and effective, and that incidents of violence are swiftly escalated to the police when necessary.

Looking Ahead: Time for Reform

For years, public service workers have dealt with increasing workloads, declining wages, and now, an escalating violence crisis. UNISON believes it is time for significant reform to ensure the safety of these workers. Employers must be held accountable, and the Scottish Government must introduce legislation and regulations that protect workers from violence at work.

Ultimately, violence is not part of the job. Public service workers deserve to feel safe while doing the essential work that keeps our society functioning. It’s time for action—because enough is enough.

Further reading

Read the violence at work report here

Read Matt McLaughlin’s letter to the cabinet secretary for health here

Read the cabinet secretary for health and social care Neil Gray’s response here