Creating Socially Safe Work Environments
In the GRID-lab and in collaboration with the Organisational Behaviour Group, we study how organisations can foster and sustain a socially safe work environment. Workplace misconduct—ranging from bullying, aggression, discrimination, and sexual harassment to more subtle behaviors such as inappropriate remarks, gossip, or hurtful jokes— can cause significant physical, psychological, and social consequences. Additionally, high work pressure can lead to stress and a lack of social safety in the workplace.
Organisations are increasingly aware of the importance of creating a socially safe work environment. However, efforts to enhance workplace safety often focus on individual interactions while overlooking the broader organisational culture. By applying a social psychological perspective, we examine how contextual factors — such as highly competitive work environments — shape employees’ experiences of social safety.
Our research takes a systematic approach, identifying challenges within organizational cultures, structures, and systems. This enables us to support organizations, HR professionals, and managers in recognizing key issues and implementing effective, context-specific solutions.
An example of a project that we are currently working on is our collaboration with the Netherlands Labour Authority (NLA). In this project, we investigate how formal procedures and employees' personal experiences contribute to social safety. We also test whether organisational and supervisional interventions have the intended effect. Additionally and together with the HR department of Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ, we apply scientific insights to HR policies and programs to promote a socially safe work environment.