Pandemic-Related Workplace Violence and Its Impact on Public Health Officials, March 2020‒January 2021

Abstract

Objectives. To characterize the experience and impact of pandemic-related workplace violence in the form of harassment and threats against public health officials. Methods. We used a mixed methods approach, combining media content and a national survey of local health departments (LHDs) in the United States, to identify harassment against public health officials from March 2020 to January 2021. We compared media-portrayed experiences, survey-reported experiences, and publicly reported position departures. Results. At least 1499 harassment experiences were identified by LHD survey respondents, representing 57% of responding departments. We also identified 222 position departures by public health officials nationally, 36% alongside reports of harassment. Public health officials described experiencing structural and political undermining of their professional duties, marginalization of their expertise, social villainization, and disillusionment. Many affected leaders remain in their positions. Conclusions. Interventions to reduce undermining, ostracizing, and intimidating acts against health officials are needed for a sustainable public health system. We recommend training leaders to respond to political conflict, improving colleague support networks, providing trauma-informed worker support, investing in long-term public health staffing and infrastructure, and establishing workplace violence reporting systems and legal protections. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print March 17, 2022: e1–e11. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306649 )

Public Health Workforce Gaps, Impacts, and Improvement Strategies from COVID-19

“…However, the national public health enterprise has struggled for decades to recruit and retain skilled professionals due to myriad challenges—competition from the private sector, visibility of governmental public health, and staff burnout, to name a few. At each governmental level, the public health workforce has atrophied following years of underinvestment, disinvestment, and separations [ 3 , 4 , 5 ], which the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated, increasing negative public sentiment toward public health and increasing the prevalence of bullying and harassment of its workers [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

US Adults’ Beliefs About Harassing or Threatening Public Health Officials During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The pandemic revealed the difficulty of providing nonpartisan, evidence-based communication on divisive topics. 5 , 18 This challenge has been further exacerbated by a quickly shifting evidence base and misinformation. 19 , 20 Our findings highlight the need to restore confidence in public health officials as nonpartisan experts who can engage individuals across the political spectrum.…”

“… 1 Surveys suggest that harassment is even more common for public health leaders, with approximately 40% of public health workers in leadership positions reporting harassment. 5 , 6 Hundreds of public health officials across state and local departments have resigned, retired, or been fired, 2 , 3 , 5 contributing to workforce shortages that predate the pandemic. 7 …”

“…[95% CI, 0.4-14] percentage point increase between November 2020 and July to August 2021; P = .04), those 65 years or older(11 [95% CI,(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) percentage point increase; P = .02), earning…”

Engaging Local Health Departments to Identify Food Safety Best Practices During a Public Health Emergency

“…A national survey conducted by NACCHO spanning March 2020 to January 2021 found that there was a high level of harassment directed at public health officials. Among 583 LHD survey respondents, 335 departments reported a total of 1499 incidents of harassment 8. Moreover, 222 public health officials reported leaving their positions and 36% of these departures occurred alongside reports of harassment 8.…”