The Workplace Options Psychological Safety Study offers an unfiltered, data-driven perspective on what’s really happening inside organizations. Based on clinical insights from workplace well-being professionals across 18 countries, the study provides a unique global lens on workforce challenges—from leadership blind spots to cultural barriers that hinder engagement.
For Chief People Officers (CPOs), Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs), and other senior business leaders, this report serves as both a wake-up call and a roadmap for action. The findings confirm that psychological safety is the bedrock of high-performing teams, inclusive leadership is the key to unlocking it, and psychosocial risk will soon be the next major workplace challenge that leaders must prepare for.
Company leaders and people managers face an urgent question: Will they create a psychologically safe and engaged workforce, or will they perpetuate a culture of stress and instability? Psychological safety—the belief that employees can express themselves without fear of negative consequences—is no longer just a workplace perk; it is a business necessity. – Alan King, President of Workplace Options
The business case for psychological safety centers on trust, innovation, and collaboration among diverse teams, driving higher employee engagement, retention, and ultimately, organizational success. In a global context, understanding and prioritizing psychological safety ensures resilient cultures, adaptive strategies, and sustained competitiveness in a dynamic marketplace.
WPO has delivered holistic wellbeing for 40+ years, based on an analytically rigorous approach and an employee engagement mindset that has helped more than 127,000 clients improve their health and performance.