Workers in long-term care homes are reporting unprecedented levels of assault and harassment, contributing to a turnover rate that is leaving the industry at risk of a staffing crisis, a new study says.

“We heard very disturbing stories about the almost daily occurrence of physical violence, verbal abuse, sexual and racial harassment and even sexual assault that is so pervasive that it’s become normalized – as if it’s part of the job,” study author Jim Brophy told CTVNews.ca.

The study, which was conducted by Canadian researchers affiliated with the U.K.-based University of Stirling and published Tuesday in the journal New Solutions, was co-sponsored by the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) and Canadian Union of Public Employees.