Psychological safety is the ability of employing one’s self without the fear of negative consequences of status, career or image; in psychologically safe teams, team members feel respected and accepted. 

Psychological safety is important within the workforce because:

• It fosters an inclusive working culture; it is crucial that all team members feel included and part of the team, and also have the opportunity to flourish regardless of their color, background, political preferences and gender.

• It reduces staff turnover; an employee that feels included is less likely to leave.
• It improves employee well being; mental health contributes to one’s overall wellbeing. When an employee is mentally healthy, they are able to perform better at their roles and they do their best.
• It inspires creativity and ideas; an employee is able to introduce new ideas and be creative only when they feel that they are able to express themselves without being judged.

Employers must therefore ensure that all their team members feel included within the organization and promote and implement an inclusion policy against discrimination, in order to create a safe working environment.