This Working Life What are we getting wrong about psychosocial safety?
Aug 22, 2025
Rachael Potter, a research lead at the University of South Australia, and Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor, tackle the confusion between psychological and psychosocial safety in workplaces. They discuss the pressing need for mental health investments, especially in small businesses, and how leadership plays a crucial role in fostering open communication. The conversation highlights Australia's regulatory advancements and their impact on workplace conditions, emphasizing the importance of understanding psychosocial hazards for overall productivity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Psychological Safety Is A Team Climate
- Psychological safety is a team-level climate where people believe they can speak up about ideas, mistakes and concerns.
- Amy Edmondson says it emerges from shared group experience, not individual traits.
Psychosocial Safety Targets Work Design
- Psychosocial safety focuses on how work is designed, organised and managed to prevent harm.
- Rachael Potter emphasises structural risk control as the base for worker health.
Fix Work Conditions First
- Control structural conditions like work hours and toxic management to reduce psychosocial risks.
- Amy Edmondson recommends employers set controllable conditions to enable psychological safety.