Compassionate and respectful workplace cultures

The SPF encourages employers and trade unions to work in partnership to create a positive culture of civility and respect in the workplace.
One patient comforts another in group counselling

Positive workplaces lead to happier, healthier staff, and better patient care.

  • The NHS Staff Survey results in 2022 show significant occurrences of workplace bullying. 18.7 per cent of staff had experienced bullying, harassment, or abuse from a colleague, and 11.1 per cent from a manager. The SPF promotes resources to help tackle this behaviour. 
  • Employers in the NHS, in partnership with trade unions, have been working hard to create a just and learning culture. This is so that when something goes wrong, staff can speak up without fearing blame and all parties share learning. Evidence shows that creating a just and learning culture can lead to improvements in staff experience, which impacts positively on the delivery of patient care.
  • The 2022 NHS Staff Survey showed, 14.7 per cent of surveyed NHS staff reported they had experienced at least one incident of physical violence from patients/service users, their relatives or other members of the public in the last twelve months. Through the violence reduction subgroup, the SPF works to prevent and reduce violence towards staff, creating a culture of safety where staff are supported, safe and secure.