‘Epidemic’: Manitoba workplace violence continues to surge

Workplace violence in Manitoba has surged dramatically, tripling between 2015 and 2025, a report from the Manitoba Federation of Labour reveals. The escalating issue disproportionately affects workers in critical sectors such as health care, education, and emergency response. These individuals often face physical and verbal abuse while performing their duties.

Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour, highlighted the disturbing reality faced by many. "Despite being bit, kicked, or spat upon, and hit, they go into work repeatedly to do the job they love to help students, to help patients, to help people," Rebeck stated. This resilience in the face of danger underscores the severity of the problem, as many incidents likely remain undocumented.

The report suggests that the true extent of workplace violence may be even greater than reported figures indicate. The continued rise in aggressive incidents poses a significant threat to the well-being of Manitoba's workforce, demanding greater attention and preventative measures.

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Despite being bit, kicked, or spat upon, and hit, they go into work repeatedly to do the job they love to help students, to help patients, to help people.