AlertMedia has released findings from its second annual State of Employee Safety Report, which details employees’ perceptions of safety in the workplace. This found that 75 percent of US employees are not satisfied with employers’ workplace safety efforts.
The study found that 71 percent of employees don’t think their employers are following through on safety promises, and 65 percent believe their employers are not making an active effort to improve safety training.
Nearly half (49 percent) of today’s workforce believes that the world is more dangerous today than it was a few years ago, and that’s with good reason. Data in the report shows that crises from severe weather to mass shootings to civil unrest are increasing in frequency and intensity.
“Employees everywhere have experienced multiple crises over the past few years that have altered their view of the world and their perceptions of safety outside of the comfort of their homes,” said Christopher Kenessey, CEO at AlertMedia. “These events impact how employees show up to work daily, and we’re seeing a growing desire among workers for employers to implement a more integrated and hands-on approach to ensuring their safety, regardless of whether they’re working in the office, from home, in the field, or while traveling for business.”
Additional insights detailed in the report include:
- Employee perceptions of employers’ safety efforts: 84 percent of employees believe that their organization has the means to help them feel more prepared for any emergency; however, 75 percent of employees say current safety efforts have not been very effective. Furthermore, nearly half (46 percent) of employees said their employer’s ability to demonstrate a genuine care about their safety is a major factor when assessing whether to stay with their organization long-term.
- The state of remote work: as employers execute return-to-office plans throughout 2023, it’s important to understand the deeper reasons why many employees can be apprehensive. 89 percent of employees report feeling safer at home than they do in an office. Additionally, remote and hybrid employees were less likely to think that their physical safety is important to their employer and reported receiving less access to safety training than employees who work in a corporate office or facility.
- The resurgence of business travel: while more than one-third (38 percent) of employees say they are required to travel for their job in some capacity outside of regular commutes, less than half (44 percent) feel totally safe while traveling. Furthermore, 41 percent said they have never been informed of safety risks while traveling for work, and 53 percent don’t know who to reach out to if they find themselves in harm’s way on a business trip.
- Mental health and psychological safety: mental health took center stage at the start of the pandemic and continued to be a large conversation during the Great Resignation. However, 66 percent of employees today say their employer is not making an active effort to support their mental health. In fact, 62 percent say their organization does not provide resources for mental health and 67 percent say their workplace culture does not allow for open dialogue about mental health.
The report also includes actionable advice for employers to better demonstrate their commitment to employees’ safety and well-being, including best practices for emergency communication, safety training, and reporting workplace incidents.
