Charter aims to undercut violence


Almost half of staff working for charities and housing associations have experienced violence or aggression, either from service users or from colleagues, a new survey from the UNISON public services union shows.


Among survey respondents, 47% had experienced violence or aggression, ranging from verbal threats to being slapped and bitten, hit and kicked, punched in the mouth and having their car vandalised at work.


The union, which also represents staff in the voluntary sector, released the survey data as it launched a new charter that commits voluntary sector organisations to comply with their duty of care to staff when it comes to violence in the workplace. 


So far, six employers have signed up to the charter: disability charities MENCAP and RNIB, elderly care services firm Coverage Care, and housing organisations Incommunities, Places For People Group, Apex Housing and WM Housing Group.


A separate UNISON survey has highlighted the violence and aggression also faced by staff working in mental health services.

https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2017/10/violence-towards-staff-charities-housing-associations-must-end-says-unison