Health Care Workers Face Growing Harassment and Burnout: A Looming Crisis

U.S. Health Care Workers Report Alarming Levels of Harassment and Burnout

U.S. healthcare workers endure harassment and burnout.

Health workers are bearing the brunt of the pandemic, and it has taken a toll on their mental health. According to a recent federal survey, reports of harassment in the workplace have more than doubled since the pandemic, and nearly half of health care workers often feel burnt out. These concerning findings were published in a new Vital Signs report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s time to address this crisis head-on!

“To label our current and longstanding challenge a crisis is an understatement,” says Dr. Casey Chosewood, the senior author of the study. “Many of our nation’s health care systems are at their breaking point.” The list of problems is long – staffing shortages, lack of supportive leadership, long working hours, and unreasonable demands. Employers must take immediate action to alleviate these issues.

Let’s dive into the survey findings. In 2022, more than 13% of health workers reported experiencing harassment at work, compared to just 6% in 2018. This harassment includes threats, bullying, and verbal abuse from patients or coworkers, creating a hostile work environment. Shockingly, health workers experienced the largest increase in workplace harassment compared to other professions. And the consequences are severe – those who were harassed were more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, and burnout.

Burnout is a significant problem. About 46% of health care workers experience feelings of burnout often or very often, with one in five feeling burned out very frequently. This is a significant increase from 2018 when only 32% reported burnout. Health workers also reported an increase in poor mental health days, from an average of 3.3 days in 2018 to 4.5 days in 2022. These numbers should not be ignored!

So, what contributes to burnout? The survey found that health care workers had a reduced risk of burnout if they trusted their management, had supportive supervisors, had enough time to complete work, or felt that their workplace supported their productivity. On the flip side, workplace harassment quintupled the risk of anxiety or burnout and more than tripled the risk of depression.

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In response to these alarming findings, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is launching the Health Worker Mental Health Initiative. The goal is to provide hospital leaders with resources and strategies to improve health worker well-being. This includes involving health workers in decision-making processes, ensuring supervisors assist with job tasks and time management, and improving work conditions and design. It’s time to prioritize the mental health of our health care heroes!

What can you do?

As individuals, we can show our support for health care workers by being understanding and considerate. Let’s spread awareness about the challenges they face and advocate for changes. And remember, a small act of kindness towards a health care worker can go a long way in brightening their day! Together, we can make a difference.

More information:

The U.S. Surgeon General provides further insight into health worker burnout.

SOURCES: Oct. 24, 2023, media briefing with: – Dr. Casey Chosewood, MD, MPH, director, Office for Total Worker Health, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health – Dr. Debra Houry, MD, MPH, chief medical officer, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Vital Signs, Oct. 24, 2023

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