Please note: the following article was developed for educational purposes only and covers a wide variety of general workplace safety concerns and considerations, some not relevant to workers' compensation coverage or commercial auto coverage.
Picture this: An employee notices a coworker's safety harness looking worn. They see a puddle of oil that could cause someone to slip. They watch a forklift operator cutting corners. But they don't say anything.
Sound familiar?
According to Pie Insurance's 2025 Employee Voice on Workplace Safety Report, this scenario might be playing out in workplaces across America more often than we'd like to think. The research suggests that some workers hesitate to report safety concerns, and when we dig into why, the answers might surprise you.
As we wrap up 2025 and look toward the new year, it's worth exploring what might be keeping employees quiet and how businesses could help them find their voice.
Research from Google's Project Aristotle found that psychological safety could be the most important factor for team effectiveness. But what happens when employees don't feel that safety?
The Pie Insurance survey revealed something interesting. Among employees who hesitate to report safety concerns, fear of retaliation or negative consequences ranked as a top reason. Think about that for a moment. These workers aren't staying quiet because they don't care. They might be staying quiet because speaking up feels risky.
"I don't want to seem difficult" was another common response. We've all been there, right? Nobody wants to be labeled as the complainer or the troublemaker. So sometimes, it might feel easier to just keep quiet and hope for the best.
And then there's the resignation factor. Some employees indicated they don't speak up because they think nothing would be done anyway. It's like shouting into the void. Why bother if nobody's listening?
Here's something that might surprise you: The survey data suggests that many employees might not clearly understand how to report workplace injuries. Even fewer might know how to file workers' compensation claims.
Imagine you're new to a job. You see something concerning, and you want to report it. But where do you go? Who do you tell? What forms do you need? If these questions don't have clear answers, that safety concern might never get reported.
It's not that employees don't want to do the right thing. Sometimes, they might just not know how. It's like having a smoke detector without batteries. The system's there, but it can't work if people don't know how to use it.
Here's where things get really interesting. The survey found that most employees say they would intervene if they saw an unsafe situation. That sounds encouraging, doesn't it? People want to help. They want to keep their coworkers safe.
But there appears to be a significant gap between what people say they'd do and what they actually do. Only about a quarter of employees reported actually stepping in when they witnessed unsafe conditions.
What's happening in that space between intention and action? Maybe it's the awkwardness of calling out a coworker. Perhaps it's uncertainty about whether you have the authority to say something. Or it could be worrying about disrupting the workflow or challenging someone who's been there longer than you.
These employees care about safety. They just might feel stuck when it comes to taking action.
The research uncovered an unexpected pattern. Smaller businesses might have lower hesitation rates when it comes to reporting safety concerns. But as businesses grow, something seems to shift. Larger companies might see more fear around reporting, especially in certain roles like commercial driving.
According to OSHA regulations,employers cannot retaliate against employees for reporting workplace safety issues. Yet this fear might persist, particularly in bigger organizations.
Why could this be happening? Well, think about working in a small business. You probably know the owner. You might feel comfortable popping into their office with a concern. But in a larger company? There could be multiple layers between you and decision makers. The whole process might feel more formal, more distant, more intimidating.
It's not that bigger companies necessarily care less about safety. But the way they're structured might inadvertently create barriers to open communication.
When asked what would make them feel safer at work, employees' responses were pretty revealing. They weren't just asking for more safety equipment or additional training. They were asking for something more basic: to be heard.
These aren't complicated requests. They're human ones. Employees seem to want to be part of the conversation, not just recipients of safety policies handed down from above.
One response particularly stood out: "Back an associate up when a customer is being hostile." This reminds us that workplace safety isn't just about equipment and procedures. It's about feeling supported, valued, and protected by your employer.
Creating an environment where employees feel comfortable speaking up about safety isn't just the right thing to do. Research from Great Place to Work suggests it could be good for business too. Companies with high trust cultures might see benefits like increased productivity, lower turnover, and better financial performance.
When employees feel safe speaking up about safety concerns, they might be more likely to speak up about other things too. Maybe they'll share that idea for improving efficiency. Perhaps they'll point out a quality issue before it becomes a customer complaint.
Building trust could be like investing in your business's immune system. Problems get caught early, before they become expensive crises.
As we head into the new year, what if we made a resolution? Not to lose weight or learn a new language, but to make it safer for employees to speak up. Here are some ideas that might help:
Start with small wins: You don't have to revolutionize your whole safety culture overnight. Maybe begin by asking for input on something low stakes, like break room improvements. Build that communication muscle gradually.
Create options: Not everyone's comfortable reporting the same way. Some people might prefer anonymous channels. Others want face to face conversations. Consider offering choices.
Close the loop: When someone does report a concern, let them know what happened next. Even if you can't make changes, explain why. This could show employees that speaking up isn't shouting into the void.
Make it normal: The more regular safety conversations become, the less scary they might feel. Regular check-ins, safety moments at the start of meetings, casual "how's it going?" conversations could all help normalize speaking up.
Lead by example: When leaders admit their own safety mistakes or concerns, it might give others permission to do the same.
For more information about workers' compensation insurance for small businesses, visit Pie Insurance's coverage options.
The 2025 Employee Voice on Workplace Safety Report suggests that communication barriers might be one of the biggest challenges to workplace safety. When employees hesitate to report concerns because of fear, confusion, or resignation, everyone could be at greater risk.
But here's the hopeful part: these barriers aren't permanent. Trust can be built. Communication channels can be opened. Cultures can shift.
Maybe 2026 could be the year we stop asking employees to choose between speaking up for safety and feeling secure in their job. Because when people feel safe to speak, everyone might be safer at work.
It really could be as easy as pie. We just need to start the conversation.
Q: What did the 2025 Employee Voice on Workplace Safety Report find about reporting hesitation? A: The report found that some workers hesitate to report safety concerns, with fear of retaliation or negative consequences being among the top reasons cited by those who do hesitate.
Q: Do reporting patterns differ between small and large businesses? A: The data suggests that smaller businesses might have lower hesitation rates, while larger businesses could see increased fear around reporting, particularly in certain roles.
Q: What's the difference between employees' intentions and actions on safety? A: While many employees say they would intervene if they saw an unsafe situation, the data indicates that fewer actually report intervening, suggesting possible situational barriers.
Q: How well do employees understand reporting processes? A: The survey data suggests that a significant portion of employees might not clearly understand how to report workplace injuries or file workers' compensation claims.
Q: What do employees say would help them feel safer? A: Employees expressed wanting a safe space to voice concerns and more participation in safety decisions, with many seeking to be asked for their opinions and input on safety matters.
About the Research:
Pie Insurance commissioned YouGov PLC to conduct surveys of both employers and employees. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov PLC. Details on sample sizes and fieldwork dates can be found in the full 2025 State of Workplace Safety and 2025 Employee Voice on Workplace Safety reports.
Thanks for reading! This content is intended for educational purposes only and does not imply coverage under workers' comp or other insurance offered through Pie Insurance Services, Inc. Please consult an agent or attorney for any questions regarding applicability of insurance.
