A study commissioned by Peoplesafe has shed light on the growing safety concerns among professionals in the services sector, including property rentals and sales.

In a survey for the study, 71% of respondents expressed worry about their personal safety when working late, while 75% reported concerns when travelling for business. Additionally, 69% of respondents expressed fear for their safety during their daily commute, and one in four professionals stated feeling unsafe while travelling home after working late, with the number rising to one in three for women.

The findings also revealed that 44% of employees in the professional services sector reported incidents in the past year that made them fear for their safety. One in four employees reported incidents directly involving violent or threatening behaviour. 

Such incidents have had significant impacts on the wellbeing and productivity of employees, with 26% of those affected worrying that it might happen again and 20% experiencing subsequent anxiety. 

Furthermore, 15% of respondents considered changing jobs, 14% took time off work, and 12% were annoyed with their employers for not taking the issue seriously.

Naz Dossa, Chief Executive of Peoplesafe commented: “Professional service companies are failing their people and the stats strongly suggest they will pay a high price in productivity and lost talent if they don’t wake up and turn their attention to employee safety. It is clear that they are not delivering the basics to keep their people safe.

According to Suky Bhaker, CEO at the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, the statistics demonstrate that the safety threat to professional services workers continues to be underestimated. 

She said: “Employees, for whom anti-social hours and frequent travel are part of the job description, should not have to work in fear for their safety and we support any research that highlights this issue.

“Thirty-seven years after the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh on, what was for her, just an ordinary day at work, we continue to campaign for a society in which people are safer – and feel safer – from violence and aggression.”