Rising workplace violence, especially in healthcare and other client-facing sectors, points to a growing security challenge that demands facility managers’ attention. According to recent research from Verkada and The Harris Poll, 82% of healthcare workers want their employers to increase security measures, with 77% reporting no improvements in the past year. While strong security has long been a hallmark of successful facilities management, it is now a critical imperative for workplaces at a higher risk of violence.
Personal safety isn’t the only consequence—workplace violence is also threatening retention. Nearly 2 in 5 healthcare workers have considered leaving their jobs due to safety concerns with almost half likely to leave in the next 12 months. This is especially concerning given the essential role healthcare workers play in maintaining critical services and patient care across the country.
It’s a security issue with multimillion-dollar implications as well. The annual cost of violence to U.S. hospitals is estimated at $18.27 billion. As threats escalate and their financial and human toll becomes impossible to ignore, facilities managers must avoid viewing security as an operational checkbox and recognize it as a strategic necessity for protecting both people and places.
The Daily Reality of Unsafe Healthcare Workplaces
The stark reality is that 59% of healthcare workers worry about their safety at work, with many starting each shift anticipating harassment or aggression. Just this year, there have been numerous incidents where healthcare workers’ lives were put at risk. In February 2025, a gunman held hospital staff hostage at UPMC Memorial Hospital before killing a police officer. Most recently, a shooter targeted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters, prompting health workers to demand clearer, more proactive safety measures.
Unfortunately, the situation is worsening over time, as 61% of nurses are more concerned about their safety today than when they started their careers. Nearly half (40%) believe working conditions have worsened even compared to last year. The specific threats they report experiencing include verbal harassment, aggressive behavior, physical assault, drug-related violence, and active shooter scenarios.
The message is clear: The perception of safety is just as important as actual security measures—and both are declining.
What Makes Healthcare Workers Feel Safe?
Despite the increase in risks, many healthcare workers believe their facilities are unprepared. Forty-one percent describe their workplace security as minimal, and more than three-quarters (77%) say no improvements were made in the past year.
Even when safety measures exist, workers often see inconsistent implementation, such as visitor ID checks being skipped, a lack of panic buttons, and incomplete or poorly monitored security camera coverage. This lack of reliability erodes trust in facilities management.
Yet, we know what works. Respondents who feel they have moderate to high security attribute a sense of safety to eight specific technologies:
- enhanced access control (85%),
- training on how to de-escalate heightened situations (80%),
- video security monitoring (79%),
- alarm systems (78%),
- on-site security guards/staff (77%),
- proactive security alerts or mass notifications technology (71%),
- parking lot surveillance (66%), and
- controlled entry into the facility (65%).
These statistics are a roadmap for facilities managers to invest in security measures that strengthen both the reality and perception of safety. When staff feel protected, they’re more likely to stay—improving retention and reducing costly turnover.
Security as a Necessary Utility and Investment
Workplace safety gaps are not just operational oversights—they are direct threats to workforce stability, patient care quality, and the financial health of businesses. Facilities should consider security as a core utility that buildings cannot function without, such as electricity or running water. With 84% of workers saying they’d feel safer with more security measures, proactive investment in security is a valuable retention strategy with tangible ROI.
Facilities managers should take practical next steps, such as:
- Audit current measures to identify gaps in coverage, enforcement, or staff awareness;
- Communicate improvements clearly to staff so they know changes are being made with their safety in mind; and
- Prioritize rapid, visible action—small but noticeable enhancements can help rebuild trust quickly.
The bottom line is facilities managers are more than stewards of buildings. They are uniquely positioned to be the frontline defenders of the people who make care possible. Every secured entrance, trained response, and monitored camera is a step toward restoring confidence and protecting the workforce that communities depend on.
Derek Gunny is a product specialist at Verkada, a provider of AI-powered physical security technology, focusing on the company’s workplace solutions.