The study, in collaboration with the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM), was recently published in the journal Occupational Medicine and is believed to be the first of its kind. A team of academics led by professor Drushca Lalloo from the University of Glasgow, polled 367 occupational health practitioners – spanning physicians, nurses/ advisors and allied health professionals.

Over half of BHA was from workers that they assessed in their own clinics (59%), followed by employers (47%) – such as managers and HR – that they provide services to. Employers (20%) and colleagues (20%) were most likely to instigate discrimination, followed by the workers they see in their clinics (19%).

These rates of BHA among occupational health practitioners are significantly higher than annual NHS staff figures – where one in four (25%) report experiencing BHA while at work from patients, service users, relatives or the public. 9% reported similar behaviour from managers, and 17% from colleagues.

BHA takes a significant toll on physical and mental health, it lowers staff wellbeing, increases sick leave, and causes valuable workers to quit. These findings come as the British Medical Association and nursing leaders have warned of a ‘dire shortage’ of specialist occupational health professionals, driven by an ageing workforce and limited training routes; the occupational medicine workforce has been in steady decline since 2009.

The findings are also likely the tip of the iceberg, as the study identified that almost two-fifths (39%) did not report BHA when they last experienced it. 

The authors urge occupational health providers to do more by putting in place clear policies, confidential reporting channels, better training and education, fair and prompt investigations and a much more proactive leadership culture. They also recommend that “when employees attend occupational health, the invitation to attend the clinic should be accompanied by a standardised statement of the responsibilities of the occupational health clinicians to both the employer and employee, so as to reduce the likelihood of any misunderstanding of the purpose and role of the occupational health professional.”

SOM president professor Neil Greenberg called the findings “shocking” and said the research “needed to be a wake-up call” to employers, providers and the NHS alike:

“It is totally unacceptable that as many as three-quarters of occupational health practitioners suffer abuse, bullying and harassment day in, day out, simply while doing their job. While abuse and bullying from patients and workers is bad enough, the extent to which practitioners are also suffering at the hands of co-workers and even the very employers they are contracted to work for is appalling.

“With the UK health workforce already suffering from long-term sickness and a dire shortage of staff, protecting our staff – occupational health practitioners and NHS staff – is vital. Real, tangible change across the board is needed, right now.” 

The full article is available in SOM’s Occupational Medicine journal, which is available here.