HR Tip: Surveys reveal disconnect between employers' perception of safety and employees' experience

Serving as a companion to Pie Insurance's April 2025 employers survey, State of Workplace Safety Report, the Small Business Employee Voice on Workplace Safety shows alignment on core safety goals, but a significant disconnect between employers' and employees' views on safety priorities. While there is agreement that at least one-half of workplace injuries are preventable and building safer workplaces is a priority, there is a wide gap between employer perceptions and employee experiences:

• Sixty-three percent of employers believe they provide structured safety training, but only 29 percent of employees report receiving it regularly, with 28 percent saying they've never received it. Forty-three percent reported "feeling pressured to work through unsafe conditions."
• Employers continue to focus on physical, environmental, and equipment risks, but mental health concerns dominate employees' worries. The top safety issue identified by 32 percent of workers, mental health significantly outpaced physical injury risks at 20 percent.
• While 52 percent of employers claim to have mental health protocols in place, only 30 percent of employees report observing these protocols. Over 90 percent of employers expressed confidence they can address mental health issues while only 62 percent of employees share that confidence.
• Workers prioritized schedule flexibility (19 percent), mental health days (17 percent), and more participation and feedback opportunities in safety planning (22 percent) as well as improved safety education and training (24 percent). Citing the CDC's suggestions for combatting burnout in Providing Support for Worker Mental Health, the report suggests that bridging the gap will require cultural shifts and changes in workplace policies and practices, not just new or tweaked programs.