Healthcare workers often face workplace risks of harm that extend beyond exposure to illness and physical strain. One of the most serious threats that many healthcare workers face is the risk of workplace violence.
This concern has seen increased media attention in recent years, partially because statistics suggest that this risk is becoming increasingly pressing over time. Incidents of aggression, whether from patients, visitors or even co-workers, can cause lasting harm to those who provide essential care.
While it would be ideal to have these risks mitigated into insignificance, as long as these risks persist, it is important to have relief available for those affected. In New Jersey, workers’ compensation laws are in place to help healthcare employees recover from workplace-related violence and its related harms.
Navigating this challenging reality
Violence in healthcare settings can take many forms. It may involve physical assaults, such as hitting, kicking or biting. In some cases, it manifests as verbal threats or harassment that escalate into dangerous situations. High-stress environments like emergency rooms, psychiatric units and long-term care facilities are especially prone to incidents that result in harm to workers, but no healthcare setting is completely immune from this risk. Workers harmed in these situations may suffer not only physical injuries but also emotional trauma that requires significant time and treatment to overcome.
New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system generally covers injuries that occur in the course of employment, and this includes those caused by workplace violence. If a nurse, orderly, technician, or other healthcare worker is assaulted on the job, they may be entitled to benefits such as medical care, temporary disability payments, and compensation for any lasting impairments. Mental health injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, may also be covered if they stem directly from a violent incident.
Unfortunately, some employees hesitate to report violence because they worry it is “part of the job” or because they fear retaliation. Others may be pressured by employers to downplay the seriousness of an event. It is important to understand that no worker should have to accept violence as a normal part of their workplace. Working with a skilled legal team to seek rightful compensation can help affected workers move forward from these challenging circumstances in healthy and supported ways.