While employers continue to improve workplace safety, significant gaps persist between employee expectations and employer efforts, according to a survey released last month, Closing the Workplace Safety Gap, from AlertMedia.
The report surveyed more than 2,000 full-time U.S. employees to understand their perceptions of safety and to arm employers with data and insights into how they can better deliver against employees’ safety expectations.
The report reveals that "workplace safety is a fundamental expectation for employees across geographies, industries, and generations,” says Christopher Kenessey, CEO at AlertMedia, in a statement. “When organizations can meet these expectations by fostering a culture of safety built on trust, communication, and support, it benefits both employees and employers, creating a more resilient, productive, and empowered workforce.”
Key Findings
- Workplace Safety Is Critical to Employees, Yet Many Feel Unsafe: While nearly all employees (96%) believe physical safety at work is essential, more than half (56%) do not feel completely safe at work.
- Emergencies at Work: 81% of employees have personally experienced an emergency or safety incident at work, yet 35% feel unprepared to navigate these events.
- Safety Priorities: Only 63% of employees believe their employer considers their safety a top priority, compared to 75% who think their employer prioritizes company reputation.
- Safety Reporting Concerns: Employees generally feel encouraged to report safety issues to their employer, but 39% of employees who reported a safety issue said they subsequently experienced retaliation, making them hesitant to speak up.
- Mental Health: 95% of employees consider mental health important, yet 15% believe their employer ignores it altogether.
- Communication: Poor communication (39%) and lack of timely updates (56%) contribute to employees feeling unsafe.
The report concludes that businesses that prioritize safety see higher trust and engagement from their workforce—employees who feel safe are three times more likely to feel prepared for emergencies.