Fórsa Delegates Back Assault Leave Extension and Support for Staff

Fórsa delegates have endorsed calls for government departments to enhance support for staff assaulted at work and to extend assault leave to workers not currently covered, such as school secretaries. This follows a report at the union’s Killarney conference about a Cork school secretary who was unpaid after an assault by an intruder.

Victoria Luke, a school secretary and former A&E nurse, recounted being pinned to a wall by a strong child with additional needs, an incident that also injured a Special Needs Assistant and the principal. Luke highlighted that school secretaries are only entitled to 10 days of statutory sick pay if injured, lacking assault leave or critical illness benefits. She noted that teachers and SNAs generally face more frequent incidents.

The issue extends beyond schools. Fórsa plans a survey on experiences in children’s residential care. Staff in the Department of Social Protection also face dangers, with assaults increasing from 19 in 2023 to 22 in 2024. Majella Murphy, a department worker, attributed some aggression to client frustration with complex processes and being denied assistance. She cited an incident where a client threw a stoma bag at staff and another where a person became aggressive when denied a cheque without a form.

The conference passed motions for improved support structures and assistance with reporting incidents to An Garda Síochána. However, a proposal for longer sentences for assaulting public servants was rejected.