A new survey has revealed that four in five workers in the UK have experienced abuse or violence at work, raising serious concerns about employee safety and prompting calls for stronger protections.
The research, conducted by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), surveyed 5,000 employees across multiple sectors and found widespread incidents ranging from verbal abuse to physical assaults and sexual harassment.
The findings show that workplace abuse is not limited to one industry, affecting employees in education, transport, healthcare, local government and prisons.
More than half of respondents reported facing abuse on a weekly basis or more frequently, with incidents involving customers, members of the public, colleagues and even managers.
Despite the scale of the problem, many workers are not reporting incidents.
Half of those who chose not to report abuse said they believed it was “part of the job”, while one in three felt their concerns would not be taken seriously.
Union leaders warn this culture of silence is allowing unsafe conditions to persist.
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’.”
He added: “Nobody should go to work fearing for their safety, but that is the reality for thousands of our vital frontline workers.”
Nowak also called on the government to strengthen enforcement, saying: “ministers must reinvest in the HSE, so we have more inspectors visiting workplaces and enforcing safety rules.”
Safety experts are also calling for employers to take greater responsibility in protecting staff.
Ruth Wilkinson from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health said: “Under health and safety law, employers have a duty to protect staff from work-related violence.”
She added: “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.”
The findings have intensified pressure on both employers and policymakers to address workplace safety, particularly for frontline workers who face the highest risks.
With abuse and violence affecting a large majority of the workforce, unions warn that urgent action is needed to ensure safe and supportive working environments across the UK.