Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Backs Workplace Violence Prevention For Health Care And Social Service Workers Act

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi hailed the passage of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, legislation to protect healthcare, social service, and similar services employees from workplace violence by requiring the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to mandate employers in the sector develop and implement workplace violence prevention plans.

"No one should feel physically or emotionally threatened in their place of work, especially on the frontlines of this global pandemic," Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. "It is our duty to prioritize the health and safety of these workers by ensuring employers develop and implement plans to prevent workplace violence. Keeping health care workers safe enables them to focus on their mission – saving lives."

According to a 2016 Government Accountability Office study, the rate of violence against health care workers is up to 12 times higher than that of the overall workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated that trend given that a National Nurses United survey found that about 20% of nurses reported an increase of workplace violence.