A majority of Ontario’s education workers have experienced violence on the job.
That’s according to a recent University of Ottawa report, based on a survey of nearly 5,800 education workers, including teachers, direct student support staff, and indirect staff such as custodians, clerical workers, and bus drivers.
The study reveals widespread workplace violence and harassment — issues compounded by discouraging responses from administration. The report says these incidents contribute to toxic environments and harm the physical and mental health of education workers, as well as their ability to do their jobs.
If unaddressed, the retention crisis in education “is going to be so much worse,” said Darby Mallory, a PhD student in criminology and lead author of the report, which was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.