What is it about?
Could a safe and supportive workplace be the key to helping employees thrive and building a healthier, more motivated workforce? We studied nearly 1,000 employees in 59 organizations over time to understand how workplaces that prioritize psychological health and safety can make a real difference in employee well-being.
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Why is it important?
We found that when employees feel their workplace truly values them as individuals—not just as tools for profit or productivity—their basic psychological needs are met. They feel more in control of their work, capable, and connected to others. This fulfillment leads them to be more energetic and engaged, creating a win-win situation for both employees and employers. However, when workplaces consistently overlook or devalue employees as people, these basic needs are violated. When basic needs go unmet, employees may feel emotionally worn down, which can damage both individual lives and the organization’s long term performance.
Perspectives
I hope this article adds a meaningful voice to the conversation about why management should care about employee well-being, even though some might argue that employees are paid to work and it’s reasonable to expect them to work hard for the organization. Paradoxically, when organizations believe that simply paying people is enough, the gains rarely last. But when employees are treated as individuals with dignity, it is not only a testament to our growth as a humanistic and progressive society, but also brings about greater and more sustainable organizational performance.
Pay Yee Shee
University of Malaya
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: How psychosocial safety climate affects employee well-being via basic psychological needs: A longitudinal multilevel moderated mediation study., Journal of Applied Psychology, July 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/apl0001304.
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