Small Business Employees' Top Workplace Safety Concern: Mental Health
A recent survey of over 1,000 small business employees reveals a surprising shift in priorities when it comes to workplace safety. While physical injuries and environmental hazards are often the focus, the survey highlights a growing concern: mental health.
The 2025 Employee Voice on Workplace Safety Report, conducted by Pie Insurance, sheds light on the mental health challenges faced by employees. Here's a breakdown of the key findings:
- Mental Health as the Top Concern: An overwhelming 32% of employees ranked mental health as their primary safety concern, surpassing physical injuries (20%) and environmental hazards (9%).
- Pressure to Work Despite Challenges: A staggering 43% of employees admitted to feeling pressured to work through fatigue, illness, or unsafe conditions to meet deadlines or quotas.
- Employer Confidence vs. Employee Perception: While 91% of employers expressed confidence in addressing mental health, only 62% of employees shared this sentiment.
- The Impact of Mental Health Support: Three-quarters of employees believe that some form of mental health support would significantly improve their work and overall well-being.
The survey also compared the perspectives of employees and employers. Interestingly, while 52% of employers claimed to have mental health protocols in place, only 30% of employees reported observing these measures. Employees expressed a desire for flexible work hours (19%), mental health days (17%), and basic counseling or peer groups (12%).
The impact of workplace stress and safety concerns on personal life is significant. Thirty-six percent of employees reported experiencing reduced motivation or burnout (63%), increased anxiety or depression (62%), physical symptoms like headaches or fatigue (59%), sleep disturbances (51%), difficulty focusing at home (40%), and strained personal relationships (35%) as a result.
When it comes to speaking up about safety concerns, 17% of employees hesitate due to fear of retaliation or negative consequences (35%), not wanting to appear difficult (33%), believing nothing would be done (31%), resolving issues independently (29%), uncertainty about the validity of their concern (25%), or not wanting to involve others (19%).
Another area of disconnect was safety training. While 63% of employers claimed to provide structured safety training sessions, only 29% of employees reported receiving regular, structured training. Furthermore, 28% of workers had never received formal safety training.
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace also revealed a gap in awareness. Only 20% of surveyed employees were aware that their company uses AI, despite 44% of employers reporting its use. Employers were more optimistic about AI's role in safety, with 64% believing it will enhance worker safety in the next five years, compared to 23% of employees.
The report offers four crucial recommendations to address these concerns:
- Closing the Mental Health Gap: Employers should audit their mental health protocols and ensure they align with employees' experiences. Implementing flexible work arrangements and incorporating mental health days into policies are essential steps.
- Integrating Safety into Schedules: Safety should be an integral part of project timelines, not an afterthought.
- Ensuring Safe Reporting: Anonymous reporting systems should be established, and managers should be trained to respond supportively. Transparency about actions taken based on employee feedback is vital.
- Effective Training Delivery: Instead of focusing solely on offering training, employers should track completion rates, identify those who have missed training, and make the training interactive and relevant to real-world job scenarios.
This survey highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to workplace safety, prioritizing mental health and addressing the unique challenges faced by small business employees.
