Responding to new UK findings on bullying, harassment and discrimination in the optics profession, the Association of Optometrists (AOP) said it is committed to tackling bullying and discrimination at work.
Of the respondents to the General Optical Council’s (GOC) registrant workforce and perceptions survey 2023, 41% reported having experienced harassment, bullying, or abuse at work from patients and service users, their relatives, or other members of the public; 18% reported having experienced harassment, bullying, or abuse from managers; and 24% said they had experienced discrimination from patients and service users, their relatives, or members of the public.
Every eyecare professional should be able to go to work without fear of discrimination, harassment or abuse, but this is not the reality for all practitioners, said Adam Sampson, AOP chief executive. “The GOC survey findings are deeply troubling and echo the results of AOP’s equality, diversity and inclusion survey, which showed one in four optometrists had either experienced or witnessed discrimination at work in the last two years. Sustained action is needed to tackle toxic work environments.”
