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.
