Here's how to increase social safety in the workplace

Suppose an employee barely gets speaking time in meetings because a few colleagues are constantly dominating the conversation. Or consider that co-worker who makes inappropriate comments about someone's clothing style; or someone who is made uncomfortable by a joke that is just a little too personal. These are examples of situations that can undermine social safety in the workplace. How do you ensure a safe work environment for everyone?

Name undesirable behavior and be alert

The first step in ensuring social safety is awareness of undesirable behavior. This is not always easy, as some forms of bullying or exclusion can be subtle. Therefore, it is important for HR managers to be alert to signs that indicate social insecurity. These may be small changes in behavior, such as employees withdrawing or showing reduced job satisfaction. There are several things you can do to stay alert:

• Create a notification system where colleagues can report signs of social insecurity.
• Use confidants who are available to employees and have received training in recognizing social insecurity.
• Monitor the workplace, such as through regular feedback moments, to keep a finger on the pulse.

Create an open and transparent culture

Social safety goes beyond preventing undesirable behavior. Promoting social safety requires an open culture in which employees feel free to speak out. As an HR or L&D manager, you can contribute to this by regularly encouraging open dialogue:

• For example, introduce a monthly "open consultation session," where employees can share concerns anonymously or in confidence.
• Have executives lead by example by being transparent about their own experiences with social safety.
• Communicate clearly what socially safe manners are within the organization.

Discuss social safety with training sessions

Sometimes it can be difficult to fully identify for yourself what you need to move forward. It can therefore be helpful to spar with colleagues, your supervisor or a coach. Ask them what skills they think are important in your role or for the position you want to grow into. Their insights can help you further clarify and specify your learning needs. Some benefits of online training include:

• Online training courses allow employees to learn about social safety at their own pace and time. This makes the barrier to participation low.
• Through interactive elements and hands-on simulations, employees learn how to respond to unsafe situations.
• Online training can be easily scaled so that every employee has access without high costs.

Finding the right training or course to increase social safety

As an HR or L&D manager, you can contribute by selecting training courses that meet the specific needs of your organization. Think, for example, of trainings on recognizing and reporting undesirable behavior, but also on positive ways of giving feedback and working together. Curious about SkillsTown's interactive training on social safety? Request a free demo!

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