Costs of Lost Productivity – Healthcare Workplace Violence

The health care costs associated with workplace violence are notoriously difficult to calculate. Each incident springs from the unique conditions of an individual workplace. In some cases, the initial costs may come and go in the space of a week or two. However, there are various other costs, such as trauma care, funerals and grief counseling, which may be more drawn out and are considerably harder to quantify. These hidden costs can have a profound impact on the health and well-being of both individuals and organizations.

While the direct costs of an incident may be relatively easy to identify, it is often the indirect costs, such as lost productivity and reduced morale, which can have the most lasting impact.

Lost productivity

The costs of lost productivity due to health care and workplace violence are staggering. The US Department of Labor estimates that workplace violence costs 500,000 employees 1.2 million lost workdays every year. And that’s just one part of the lost productivity. Other factors such as absenteeism, presenteeism, and workers’ compensation claims can also take a toll on businesses. According to the CDC, the indirect costs of health care alone are $225.8 billion per year. When you factor in lost productivity, it’s clear that businesses are feeling the pinch. workplace violence and health care costs are two major factors contributing to lost productivity in the workplace. Businesses need to find ways to address these issues in order to improve their bottom line.

Employee retention

Revisiting the scene of a traumatic event can trigger powerful emotional reactions that make it impossible for people to concentrate on their work. That, in turn, can motivate employees to find a new job.

Piling extra work on co-workers for 42 working days—more than eight weeks—can’t but hurt productivity. It forces companies to cut corners in ways that undermine trust with customers and clients.

Morale and job satisfaction

Workplace violence is a serious issue that health care workers face on a daily basis. health care professionals have to deal with the threats of violence from patients, families, and visitors. The most talented employees with the most in-demand skills have no reason to put up with an atmosphere of violence or threats. health care workers should not have to deal with these threats and health care organizations need to do more to protect their employees.