Charter to stop violence at work
A “Violence at Work Charter”, which would see employers commit themselves to “a series of interventions” to reduce the number of violent incidents against staff, is to be launched by the public service union UNISON.
The charter will include:
• collecting and monitoring data on violent incidents;
• proper structured support for staff who experience violence;
• thorough risk assessments when staff are placed in vulnerable situations; and
• training for staff so they know how to deal with threatening situations.
UNISON plans to launch a pilot scheme to get employers to sign up to its charter on violence at work in the housing association sector later this year.
The scheme would then be expanded, along with any lessons learned, to cover all employers in the housing, community and voluntary sectors.