Hamilton hospital workers face 'horrific rates of workplace violence': CUPE poll

Hamilton hospital staff have seen a rise in violence against them since the pandemic started, according to a new poll conducted for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

The poll of more than 2,300 CUPE members in Ontario — 506 of which were in Hamilton — included registered practical nurses, personal support workers, health care aides, administrative staff and cleaning staff. The poll was conducted from May 17 to 24 and local results were released Tuesday.

Of those local respondents, 64 per cent reported experiencing physical violence at their workplaces, 57 per cent said they experienced sexual harassment and 39 per cent reported experiencing sexual assault like groping.

Over half of respondents said there has been a rise in violent incidents since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Dave Verch, a registered practical nurse in Ottawa and first vice-president of CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), saying the results show "horrific rates of workplace violence."

"If you want an explanation as to why people are leaving health care ... at least part of the explanation is in this poll."

The results come amid another wave of COVID-19 and increasing pressures in hospitals as workers self-isolate.

Eighty-seven per cent of those polled in Hamilton said they experience non-physical violence like name-calling, insults, threats and threatening gestures. As well, 65 per cent said they felt depressed, anxious or emotionally exhausted because of work conditions.

Sharon Richer, secretary-treasurer of CUPE's OCHU, highlighted 90 per cent of the 506 respondents said they were females.

Among respondents who identify as Black, Indigenous, Asian or people of colour, 75 per cent said they experience harassment or abuse because of their race or ethnicity either daily, weekly or occasionally.

The survey also indicates workers polled want hospitals to do more.

Only 12 per cent of those surveyed said their employer made improvements to protect staff from violence and only 26 per cent said hospitals provide full disclosure about potentially violent people who have been violent outside of the hospital.

Santo Samino, the president of the Local 786 who represents St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton workers, called the results "alarming."

"It's scary. They're constantly getting attacked, getting things thrown at them and they need more to help them and protect them," Samino said.

Jillian Watt, president of CUPE 7800 who represents HHS staff, called the results unsurprising but disappointing.

HHS and St. Joe's denounce intimidation of staff

HHS and St. Joe's said in a joint email to CBC Hamilton they denounce the intimidation of health-care workers and don't tolerate violence and abuse in their hospitals.

"We acknowledge that, due to the pandemic and on-going associated pressures, health-care workers have been subjected to undue stress, and even intimidation and abuse," read the joint statement.

"We are committed to the ongoing improvement of workplace and patient safety at each of our hospitals."

They also said they both have ongoing anti-racism work at their sites.

The hospital networks listed numerous policies in place to protect everyone in their buildings including:

• Non-stop security at each of our hospital sites.
• Code of conduct and workplace violence/harassment policies which also include ways to report concerns.
• Well-established and regularly reviewed emergency code protocols.
• Protocols to help staff respond to patients with unpredictable behaviour.
• A Behavioural Safety Risk protocol, which enables workers to identify, communicate, and mitigate potentially harmful behaviours from patients.
• Whistleblower policies which empower people to report concerns or unethical behaviour via a third party application.

The hospital networks also encourage staff to report any form of violence or abuse and to seek support from management if needed.

More funding and support needed: CUPE

Richer said the Ford government needs put more money into the health-care system to increase the number of beds and improve staffing shortages.

"We need hospital administrators to step it up. The zero-tolerance policies they have, we need to start following them," she said.

She added there should be legislation to protect staff who speak out about their work conditions and their Workplace Safety and Insurance Board claims shouldn't be challenged.

"If we don't start talking about it ... it won't get dealt with," she said.

CUPE commissioned polling firm Oraclepoll Research to conduct the research. A total of 2,307 of its hospital members were surveyed across Ontario with survey questions designed by the union in consultation with the firm.

Oraclepoll used computer-assisted telephone interviewing with live researchers, and telephone interview appointments when respondents were unable to complete the survey at the time. It also offered digital surveys for those who requested them, and used the text-to-phone method with a link to the survey when respondents didn't answer the phone.

The margin of error for the poll is plus or minus four per cent, 19 times out of 20.