America’s Frontline Workers in Crisis
This is a difficult moment for front-line workers. Already overextended, the average American worker is dealing with a new on-the-job concern: they don’t feel safe at work.
It’s hard to blame them. Today we see images of workers being accosted by irate fast food customers, aggressive airline passengers and violent hospital patients. Every hour, two nurses in the United States are the victims of assault at their workplace. Nearly half of hospital nurses reported a rise in workplace violence last year, with a year-on-year increase of 119 percent. Assaults and theft in retail settings have been increasing at a faster pace than the national average, and retail workers are tired of fearing for their safety.
The people who serve in these critical roles, driving our economy and providing a service to the public, make up the vast majority of America’s workforce today. Approximately 70 percent of the U.S. workforce is concentrated in front-line jobs, from healthcare to retail and service sectors, and beyond.
To better understand the state of workplace safety and the emotional toll it takes on front-line workers, Verkada surveyed 1,000 professionals across major industries, including consumer banking, healthcare, retail, and hospitality. Our findings, which are detailed in this report, shine a light on the challenges facing front-line workers today.