Psychological Safety and Cultural Safety in the Workplace

Welcome to the Psychological Safety and Cultural Safety in the Workplace module, created by the Indigenous Workways Project!

By the end of this training module, participants will be able to:

• Define Psychological and Cultural Safety in the workplace.
• Explain the impact of Psychological and Cultural Safety on employee well-being and how Indigenous employees experience it.
• Identify symptoms of a psychologically and culturally safe or unsafe environment.
• Recognize the consequences of Psychological and Cultural Safety.
• Offer practical strategies for promoting Psychological and Cultural Safety in employees’ everyday communication and behaviour.

Questions to consider as you begin this module: 

• In the workplace, do you feel comfortable when sharing your thoughts and ideas?
• Can you authentically be yourself, or do you fear judgement when asking questions or contributing to discussions? Or do you try not to talk about your thoughts and ideas at all?
• Are you free to discuss aspects of your identity, such as ethnicity and gender, without concerns of judgment or ridicule?
• When errors occur in your job, what reactions might you expect from your supervisor, manager, or coworkers?

These questions all revolve around Psychological Safety and Cultural Safety. In this module, we will discuss the significance of Psychological and Cultural Safety in the workplace for Indigenous employees. We will explore how together we can foster an environment where every team member feels supported, valued, and empowered to be themselves while contributing to the organization’s success.

First, we will talk about the definitions of Psychological and Cultural Safety concepts. Then, we will explore their effects on organizations and Indigenous employees. Next, we will discuss how to identify the signs of a psychologically and culturally unsafe environment. And finally, we will talk about the strategies we can use as individuals to foster a psychologically and culturally safe work environment for everyone.