- Key Insight: Discover how holistic safety—physical, emotional, cultural—redefines workforce risk management.
- Supporting Data: OSHA: Over 2 million workplace violence victims annually; over 5,000 fatalities.
- Forward Look: Expect increased investment in safety tech, training, and privacy‑protecting reporting systems.
Source: Bullets generated by AI with editorial review
Employees don't just want better pay and more flexible schedules, they want to know their organizations care about their health and safety.
Each year, more than 2 million employees are victims of
"The organizations that are going to outperform over the next decade are going to be the ones who think of workforce safety holistically, physically, emotionally and culturally," said Matt Zender, SVP, workers' compensation strategy at specialty insurer AmTrust Financial. "For a manager to know how to deliver against that, they're going to need to have skill sets that will either require some refinement or frankly some baseline training."
From protecting certain demographics to investing in better training opportunities and tools such as
Physical safety
Employees and remote workers alike are craving round-the-clock security both in and out of the workplace — and for good reason.
Personal safety fears in the U.S. are at a three-decade high, according to a recent report from Gallup, with 40% of adults feeling
"We've become this incredibly intolerant nation," said Lee Stokes, founder of CSA Insure and the National Workplace Violence Safety Alliance (NWVSA), which has sought to help close an important insurance gap in the face of this troubling trend. "We feel like it's okay to do people bodily harm if something doesn't go our way. And so right now, we know that no industry is immune to workplace violence."
Read more:
Why more U.S. workers are hitting the panic button Is personal security the new must-have benefit? Rising tide of workplace violence takes its toll
Training and upskilling
One of the most effective ways to reinforce workplace safety and prevent accidents on the job is through accessible training.
A study by the Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California found that employees with less than a year's experience are twice as likely to have a
"A safety culture is built over weeks and months," Zender said. "It's a continual process, and one that employees, especially younger employees, are going to be seeking out as they're growing in their career."
Read more:
With AI driving Gen Z to blue-collar jobs, these sectors must ramp up safety, training How companies can keep their lone workers safe
Protecting immigrant workers
A 2025 survey from communication provider EMCI Wireless found that roughly 37% of U.S. workers reported
"The concept of employees being loyal to a company to any end because they love it so much and it feels like a family is not a thing anymore, especially when situations like ICE raids are happening," says Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz, founder and CEO of Refuerzo Collaborative, a Latino-led communications agency that helps organizations build culturally competent internal strategies. "Employees can't give you 110% in their work if you're not giving them 110% in support."
Read more:
ICE at work: Employee protection hinges on legal benefits ICE at work: For fearful employees, anonymity and resource access are key to safety ICE at work: Increased mental health benefits are critical amidst raids
Psychological safety
At a time of increased volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, the need for psychological safety in the workplace has never been more critical.
Psychological safety refers to a shared belief within a team that it is safe to take risks and express oneself without fear of negative consequences. When employees trust that their opinions and contributions are valued, they feel more confident in speaking up and solving problems collaboratively. This trust also fosters creativity and a sense of belonging, which is why psychological safety is central to a supportive, productive workplace.
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