Employers of workers facing violence need to take their duty of care seriously
The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, today raised its concerns about the increase in violence towards teachers, during the debate on violence in the workplace at the TUC Congress in Brighton.
Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
“It’s wholly unacceptable that increasing numbers of teachers are reporting that they are being told that being abused and assaulted is part of the job.
“No teacher or other worker should go to work with an expectation that they should tolerate violence and abuse.
“Where violence occurs, employers should operate a zero tolerance approach. In schools this would send a strong message to parents, pupils and local communities that such behavior has no place in schools.”
Speaking in the debate NASUWT President Graham Dawson said:
“We are proud to serve the public but it is time all employers are made to take their responsibilities seriously and do their jobs as well as we do our own.
“In schools, tolerance of violence and abuse is irresponsible as such an attitude betrays the young people and the staff who teach them.
“The only people who go to work expecting to be hit are professional boxers.”
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