Aggression against healthcare workers: they deserve our support

Employees in the healthcare and welfare sector have been significantly affected by the consequences of Covid-19 for a year now. The latest figures from PGGM subsidiary Vernet, which measures absenteeism in healthcare, show that 70,000 healthcare workers are unavailable per day. The length of absenteeism has increased. In branches where structural staff shortages already existed before the pandemic, Covid is exacerbating work pressure even further.

Healthcare providers now indicate that there is also a connection between Covid-19 and increasing aggression, intimidation, and unwanted behavior towards staff in the workplace. This is evident in a large-scale study on workplace aggression in healthcare, commissioned by the Ministry of Health and conducted by PGGM&CO in February among thousands of its members, all working in the sector.

The figures are alarming. Three-quarters of the respondents indicate that they have experienced aggression or unwanted behavior in the past twelve months in the workplace: from patients and clients, from family or visitors of patients, and from colleagues. In many cases, this is resolved well and professionally, but some employees are affected by it, and in some cases, it prompts them to look for work outside the sector.

Aggression and unwanted behavior can thus be the breaking point for healthcare workers to quit. It adds to the pressure that many already face in their work. Excessive work pressure reduces the attractiveness of the job, leads to absenteeism and dropout. One-fifth of the 60-pluses in the PFZW participant base are occupationally disabled. Those who stay in the sector, especially during this Covid time, see how challenging it is to meet the demand for care.

PGGM and PFZW, jointly responsible for a good pension for nearly 3 million people working and who have worked in the healthcare and welfare sector, draw attention to the societal consequences of this growing 'care gap': a sector that, without measures, is unable to accommodate the increasing demand for care.

It is in the interest of our constituency that we do not let this happen: vital employees are happy and productive employees and remain retained for the sector. A recent Dutch PFZW study clearly shows the reasons why healthcare workers drop out, work pressure being one of them. A healthcare and welfare sector that is well able to fulfill its societal task is socially and economically of enormous value to an aging society.

Therefore, PFZW, PGGM, and the member organization PGGM&CO, representing three-quarters of a million (former) employees and retirees from the healthcare and welfare sector, complement pension services with initiatives to provide extra support to the sector and its people.
PGGM and PFZW provide employers in healthcare and welfare institutions with insight into their labor market data, about outflow, inflow, absenteeism, and part-time factor: a growing number of mainly large employers are now using this for the improvement of their long-term workforce planning. This helps reduce acute staff shortages and alleviate pressure on employees. It prevents prolonged absenteeism and occupational disability.

The member organization PGGM&CO, founded in 2008 by social partners, focuses primarily on active employees in the sector. It has now contacted its membership base to gauge aggression in the workplace, which provides valuable information to the sector. PGGM&CO has brought knowledge and advice to its members through a range of initiatives to help them stay physically and mentally fit, and financially resilient. Collaboration has been sought with organizations like IZZ in the 'Stress de Baas'  Dutch platform.

Our primary and most important responsibility, providing a very good, affordable pension scheme suitable for healthcare and welfare, is seen broadly - considering the challenges facing healthcare - to ensure that the sector can continue to fulfill its significant societal task, we are exploring various ways to add value for those who do this important work.

Caption: The Dutch report 'Aggression in the Workplace in Healthcare' can be found on the PGGM&CO website.