- Conference
- 2026 National Community Conference and Seminar
- Date
- 5 November 2025
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes multiple UNISON reps in the Housing Association sector are reporting a rise in workplace violence incidents across the UK.
Data collected by UNISON consistently shows worrying levels of violence, harassment and sexual harassment at work and that many workers see violence and harassment as being “part of the job”. In October 2025, UNISON Scotland at the Health and Safety Conference launched the Violence at Work report. After sending Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to Housing Associations operating in Scotland, the report gathered data on incidents of verbal and physical violence, as well as threatening behaviour. While not all Housing Associations responded to the FOI, a total of 1462 incidents were reported against housing association staff. This is an increase of 13 % (+166) compared with 2024, where a total of 1296 incidents were reported. Of the 76 Housing Associations responding to the FOI survey 46 (60%) reported that incidents of violence and aggression had taken place.
Conference posits there are many instances of abuse at work which are not reported to line management, and therefore the scale of the problem is likely greater than the figures suggest. Numerous reps have reported there is a feeling within some workplaces that abuse received over the phone or over email is less likely to be reported than if received in-person, and less likely to be taken seriously by senior management.
Conference also notes violence and harassment against women in Housing Association workplaces is a growing problem, both resulting from and contributing to an alarming rise in misogyny in society generally.
Conference strongly believes the protection of workers in the workplace is a foundational tenet of the trade union movement. Workers have a right to be treated with dignity and respect, free from discrimination and harassment, and to work in a safe environment.
Employers play a crucial role in addressing this issue. They must fulfil their legal duty of care by implementing effective health and safety policies and practices to prevent violence and harassment, improve training, and ensure workers’ rights to a safe and healthy working environment are respected and enforced.
Conference calls on the Community Service Group Executive to:
1)Work with the relevant parts of the union to build on the work completed in Scotland and send Freedom of Information requests to Housing Associations around the UK in the aim to establish the scale of violence and abuse against Housing Association workers.
2)Work with branches and other relevant sections of the union in encouraging community employers to sign up to the End Violence at work Charter.