[This is an excerpt.] In 2023, business leaders across industries contended with a broad call for more responsive, democratic workplaces, exemplified by a resurgent labor movement. Nearly half a million workers withheld their labor in 354 strikes in just the first 10months of the year—roughly four times as many as went on strike over the same time frame in 2022—and the number of petitions for union representation has continually increased over the past two years. [To read more, click View Resource.]
This resource is found in our Actionable Strategies for Health Organizations: Establishing Commitment & Shared Governance (Shared Governance).
The Shared Power Advantage: How to Build a Thriving Company Where Workers Have a Seat at the Table
It takes courage to help child and adult victims of sexual abuse, assist survivors of acts of terrorism and mass violence, fight fires that may have taken people's lives, or respond to shootings and other crime scenes. It also takes commitment to do this work despite the personal, physical, emotional, and mental impact it can have.
The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit (VTT) was developed on the premise that exposure to the traumatic experiences of other people—known as vicarious trauma—is an inevitable occupational challenge for the fields of victim services, emergency medical services, fire services, law enforcement, and other allied professionals; however, organizations can mitigate the potentially negative effects of trauma exposure by becoming vicarious trauma-informed.
The VTT includes tools and resources tailored specifically to these fields that provide the knowledge and skills necessary for organizations to address the vicarious trauma needs of their staff. To begin exploring the VTT, select one of the disciplines below and visit the comprehensive Compendium of Resources.
This resource is found in our Actionable Strategies for Health Organizations: Ensuring Physical & Mental Health (Stress/Trauma & Resilience).
The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit: Blueprint for a Vicarious Trauma-Informed Organization
Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals face unique barriers that can result in occupational injustice, deprivation, and alienation. Through cultural humility, occupational therapy practitioners can provide inclusive care to TGD individuals that is supported by the AOTA Code of Ethics. We have the skills necessary to deliver client-centered, gender-affirming care that promotes engagement in healthy occupations.
This resource is found in our Actionable Strategies for Professional Associations: Spotlights: Professional Associations Relational Strategies (Improving Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion).
Transgender & Gender-Diverse Inclusive Resources for Your Practice
Urban Universities for HEALTH (Health Equity through Alignment, Leadership, and Transformation of the Health Workforce) aims to enhance and expand a culturally sensitive, diverse, and prepared health workforce that improves health and reduces health disparities in urban communities.
This resource is found in our Actionable Strategies for Health Organizations: Promoting Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.
Urban Universities for HEALTH
Did you know that a hospital is one of the most hazardous places to work? In 2019, U.S. hospitals recorded 221,400 work-related injuries and illnesses, a rate of 5.5 work-related injuries and illnesses for every 100 full-time employees. This is almost twice the rate for private industry as a whole.
OSHA created a suite of resources to help hospitals assess workplace safety needs, implement safety and health management systems, and enhance their safe patient handling programs. Preventing worker injuries not only helps workers—it also helps patients and will save resources for hospitals. Download the overview and explore the links below to learn more about the resources available.
This resource is found in our Actionable Strategies for Health Organizations: Ensuring Physical & Mental Health (Occupational Safety).
Worker Safety in Hospitals: Caring for Our Caregivers
A key to successful implementation of health information technology (health IT) is to recognize its impact on both clinical and administrative workflow. Once implemented, health IT can provide information to help you reorganize and improve your workflow. This toolkit is designed for people and organizations interested or involved in the planning, design, implementation, and use of health IT in ambulatory care.
This resource is found in our Actionable Strategies for Health Organizations: Improving Workload & Workflows (Reducing Administrative Burdens).
Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit
This resource is found in our Actionable Strategies for Health Organizations: Ensuring Physical & Mental Health (Workplace Violence Prevention).
Workforce and Workplace Violence Prevention
[This is an excerpt.] Mental health is an important component of overall well-being and is equally as vitalas physical health for all employees. Mental health concerns due to work have the potential to adversely impact an employee's social interactions, productivity,performance, and absenteeism. Stress affects people in a variety of ways such as muscle tension, headaches, stomach discomfort, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Ignoring workplace stress can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, co-workers, and communities. [To read more, click View Resource.]
This resource is found in our Actionable Strategies for Workers & Learners: What Workers & Learners Can Do
Workplace Mental Health
[This is an excerpt.] Workplace violence consists of physically and psychologically damaging actions that occur in the workplace or while on duty (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH], 2002). The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases an annual report about injuries and illnesses resulting in time away from work in the United States. In the health care and social assistance sectors, 13% of days away from work were the result of violence in 2013, and this rate has increased in recent years (U.S. Department of Labor [DOL], Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). Examples of workplace violence include direct physical assaults (with or without weapons), written or verbal threats, physical or verbal harassment, and homicide (Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA, 2015). [To read more, click View Resource.]
This resource is found in our Actionable Strategies for Government: Ensuring Workers' Physical and Mental Health (Strengthen Occupational Safety and Health Policies).
Workplace Violence
This page provides links to materials developed by The Joint Commission as well as government resources and those from professional associations (such as the American Nurses Association and the American Hospital Association) and related organizations. The tabs below organize the resources according to source: From The Joint Commission, Federal Resources, State Resources, Professional Associations, and Other Resources. We encourage healthcare organizations to share their experience under the heading of “From the Field” and welcome suggestions for improvement.
This resource is found in our Actionable Strategies for Professional Associations: Spotlights: Professional Associations Operational Strategies (Ensuring Physical & Mental Health).
