Leaders testified in support of a new consensus proposal with 68 legislative sponsors as the session begins

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 9, 2025 – Groups representing hospitals, nurses, and healthcare workers across Massachusetts came together at the State House today to urge passage of a bill that would address the worsening crisis of workplace violence in healthcare settings. Leaders from the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA), the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), and 1199SEIU Massachusetts delivered testimony in united support of An Act Requiring Health Care Employers to Develop and Implement Programs to Prevent Workplace Violence (H.2655/S.1718).

Every 36 minutes, a worker in a Massachusetts hospital is subject to an act of violence or a threat. This crisis has grown at an alarming rate in recent years, with healthcare workers experiencing a violent incident at least five times more often than the average private sector worker.

While the groups had supported similar but separate proposals in previous sessions, this marks the first time that a single, consensus piece of workplace violence legislation has been laid before local policymakers. MHA, MNA, and 1199SEIU representatives urged its passage before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security this morning.

“A crisis of this magnitude requires true collaboration to solve, and that is exactly what this legislation represents,” said MHA President & CEO Steve Walsh. “Our hospitals and healthcare workers are proudly standing up together to ensure that violence is never just part of the job. These bills give policymakers a rare opportunity to pass reforms that were crafted in partnership with leading advocacy organizations, would make a real difference to the daily work of healthcare professionals, and can place the commonwealth at the forefront of care delivery yet again. Because our healthcare workers need to be focused on saving lives, not defending their own.”

An Act Requiring Health Care Employers to Develop and Implement Programs to Prevent Workplace Violence is a comprehensive policy reform designed to reduce violence at hospital facilities by:

• Requiring all Massachusetts hospitals to develop a facility-specific risk assessment and then use that assessment to implement a comprehensive program to reduce the risk of workplace violence.
• Engaging the workforce in developing the assessment/program that includes worker training, and provides a formal written violence prevention plan available upon request to all employees/labor organizations.
• Establishing strong enforcement through DPH licensing, regular reporting, and job protections for affected workers that include additional paid leave for assaulted workers.

“Nurses and healthcare workers have long been harmed by workplace violence, more so than any other profession,” said Julie Pinkham, RN, MNA Executive Director. “We have worked collaboratively with MHA and 1199 to address this growing problem through legislation that will protect all staff and patients.”

Local healthcare professionals continue to report being punched, bitten, kicked, and suffering other forms of abuse over the course of their shifts. Even with many incidents never reported, thousands suffer violent injuries annually. Workforce shortages and strains, unstandardized security prevention and planning, and a lack of appropriate consequences all contribute to these unacceptably dangerous working conditions.

“Workplace violence is a very real and very serious problem for the entire care team including patient transporters, phlebotomists, mental health counselors, dietary and housekeeping,” said 1199SEIU Vice President Cari Medina. “Ultimately, workplace violence impacts every hospital worker member who interacts with hospital patients, their visitors, or the general public. That is why it is critical for worker voices to be a part in developing a comprehensive plan that includes employee training and any appropriate changes in job design necessary to implement it.”

The proposal has earned widespread legislative support, with 68 total sponsors to-date. Its lead sponsors are Representative John Lawn (D-Watertown) and Senator Joan Lovely (D-Salem).