Test Your Psychological Safety At Work After Recent Mass Shootings

Forbes

3 days ago

After a lone gunman killed four employees in Manhattan before fatally shooting himself this summer, the mass murders have renewed concerns about psychological safety at work. The deadliest gun attack in New York City in 25 years during rush hour in the corporate offices of the National Football League, along with workplace and church shootings, have renewed concerns about psychological safety at work. How safe do you feel at work? Test your workplace on five security criteria.
Types Of Psychological Safety At Work
Workplace psychological safety is the absence of fear while working, a prerequisite for job engagement and performance. Employees are not looking over their backs while engaged. They feel free to express their thoughts, have disagreements, voice opinions and give feedback without fear of reprisal.
Psychological safety fosters an environment where team members feel valued, respected and empowered to take risks or initiative without fear of rejection, humiliation or judgment. Psychological safety can be compromised when employees are constantly faced with uncertainty at work. Inevitable uncertainties instantly arouse fight-or-flight reactions.
Your survival brain is constantly updating your world, making judgments about what's safe and what isn't. The brain will do almost anything for the sake of certainty because we're hardwired to overestimate threats and underestimate our ability to handle them. Psychological safety at work is compromised in numerous instances. Test your workplace to see if any of the following conditions exist.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that nearly two million U.S. workers are victims of workplace violence each year. Given the rise in ICE raids, mass shootings, cyber threats and other acts of workplace violence, emergency plans are not always in place. And if they are, employees are often unaware of them.
Verkada and The Harris Poll just released the Healthcare Worker Safety Report, revealing more than 80% of healthcare workers want their employers to increase security measures amid increased violence and harassment. Two in five have considered leaving their jobs due to safety concerns–many planning to leave within a year.
The report shows that healthcare workers face a disproportionately high risk of workplace violence, accounting for 73% of all nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses due to violence. They are four times more likely to suffer from workplace violence than workers in other settings, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Increasing widespread episodes of violence, threats and aggressive behaviors are taking a toll on nurses, doctors and medical staff, according to the study. It also reveals that workplace violence is among the primary drivers pushing them to pursue work outside of the industry.
A body of research has linked sexual harassment in the workplace to mental health factors such as psychological distress, anxiety and depression and physical health issues such as illnesses and absenteeism due to poor health.
Workers exposed to sexual harassment are at greater risk of suicide and attempting suicide. Experts consider workplace sexual harassment as an occupational hazard and a significant public health problem, urging that new ways to prevent and address workplace sexual harassment are needed. They also advise that survivors of sexual harassment receive mental health screening and treatment to mitigate risks for subsequent mental health concerns and suicidal leanings.
Massive layoffs, skyrocketing prices and not knowing what the future holds in today's tightening economy can create layoff anxiety. When we don't have all the facts about uncertain layoffs, it's natural to jump to conclusions with made-up stories that trigger stress. Your company lays off a ton of employees, and you assume your neck is on the chopping block next.
The constant threat of being laid off can be deeply disturbing--even traumatic. An unexpected, sudden layoff can feel like you're blindsided by a truck. It can upend your security, confidence and career plans and significantly impact your mental health. A recent study shows that 37% of Americans say they're losing sleep over job security. A notable 64% lie awake thinking about money every week. And 56% have lost sleep over fears they won't be able to pay their bills.
"Quiet vacations' are workarounds, motivated mainly by employee fear. A Harris Poll found that 78% of workers (mostly Gen Z and Millennials) don't take all their PTO, because they're afraid of being judged as slackers.
In another study, 29% of employees cited layoff fears, making them hesitant to take time off this summer. After witnessing the approximately 1.6 million workers laid off or discharged in May 2025 alone and the 8.4 million layoffs and discharges occurring in 2025 so far, employees are afraid of losing their jobs if they visibly show they are prioritizing their well-being.
Dr. Marais Bester, senior consultant at SHL, argues that 'quiet vacations' are a call to action for employers. Employees need a break but don't feel safe enough to ask for one. He insists that workers are not sneaky. They don't feel safe or supported to take the leave they are contractually entitled to. So they "find workarounds, jiggling their mouse to stay 'active,' turning video off on calls, answering just enough emails to look busy.'
Dr. Mariel Paralitici-Morales, chief medical officer at Adult and pediatric Institute told me that many employees worry about facing negative consequences if they speak up or make mistakes, which puts a damper on open communication. She points out that this often happens in rigid hierarchies with top-heavy structures where employees feel intimidated to share their thoughts.
Morales says it's difficult to introduce new practices that encourage psychological safety when the company culture is resistant to change. She adds that, if leaders send mixed messages or behave unpredictably, it can make it hard for employees to feel safe and secure in expressing themselves, but psychological safety can be a game changer.
"When people feel safe to share their ideas, ask questions or even admit mistakes without worrying about being judged or punished, they tend to be more involved and creative,' Morales explains. 'This type of open environment really helps with teamwork, making it easier to solve problems and come up with new ideas, which in turn boosts the whole team's performance.'
She encourages open communication so people can give feedback, have real conversations and feel heard and valued. 'Leaders can make a big difference by showing vulnerability themselves, like admitting their mistakes and being open to feedback," she asserts.
A Final Word On Psychological Safety At Work
Gallup found that moving the needle on psychological safety can lead to reduction in turnover (27%), in safety incidents (40%) and increases in productivity (12%). It's the leader's responsibility to create psychological safety at work so all employees can thrive. 'In the long run, when you focus on creating a safe space, you end up with a more innovative and flexible culture,' Morales concludes. 'People feel motivated to do their best work, which boosts job satisfaction and keeps them around longer.'