Workplace violence is described by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as “any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site. It ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and even homicide.” Reports suggest workplace violence in healthcare settings has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but most research uses pre-pandemic data sources.

This brief summarizes current research on workplace violence in healthcare settings in the COVID-19 pandemic context.