Striking hospital employees sound alarm over workplace violence

In addition to pay, striking hospital workers say patient violence is an issue. Hospital workers are seven times more likely to be injured at work due to violent acts than the general working population.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2048x1153+0+0/resize/2048x1153!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F67%2F13%2F99f34d42458797654f089d5ba9aa%2Fworkplace-violence-01.jpg' alt='Emergency room nurse Crystal Dhooghe speaks during a rally at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing on March 17. She is among hundreds of unionized employees at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital who have been on strike since Sept. 1, 2025.'/><p>In addition to pay, striking hospital workers say patient violence is an issue. Hospital workers are seven times more likely to be injured at work due to violent acts than the general working population.</p><p>(Image credit: Teamsters J.C.43)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5930385' />