Most U.S. employees say they feel protected at work, but a new survey reveals significant gaps between perception and reality when it comes to how organizations handle workplace misconduct.
According to a survey of 1,000 U.S. employees by TalentLMS, 71 per cent say they feel protected at work. However, the data show workplace misconduct remains common, with 36 per cent of respondents witnessing incivility or disrespect and 33 per cent experiencing it firsthand.
The survey also found that 29 per cent witnessed professional or social exclusion while 24 per cent experienced it themselves. Twenty-five per cent witnessed retaliation for speaking up and 21 per cent experienced it.
Retention risk linked to safety concerns
More than three in four employees say they would consider leaving their job if they didn’t feel protected, according to the survey, directly linking workplace safety perceptions to retention.
“Training influences how employees respond to situations they face at work,” said Theoni Velkou, compliance manager and data protection officer at Epignosis, TalentLMS’s parent company. “When compliance training reflects real workplace scenarios, it helps people recognize misconduct, understand what steps they can take, and feel more comfortable speaking up.”
Top performers face fewer consequences
Nearly two out of three employees agree that misconduct is more likely overlooked when the person involved is a top performer or leader, the survey found.
Forty-five per cent of respondents said they’ve seen people promoted even after mistreating others. Nearly half said managers discourage employees from escalating harassment or discrimination complaints.
Forty-two per cent of employees worry that speaking up will label them as difficult.
Fear and silence prevent reporting
Despite the prevalence of workplace misconduct, 25 per cent of employees said they didn’t report incidents they witnessed or experienced.
Employees cited believing reporting wouldn’t make a difference as the main reason for staying silent, with 56 per cent selecting this option. Thirty-six per cent cited fear of retaliation.
Training effectiveness shows mixed results
Sixty per cent of employees say compliance training has improved behavior in their workplace. However, 45 per cent said compliance training is disconnected from real situations employees face at work.
One in five employees received no compliance training in the past year, according to the survey. Only 33 per cent received DEI training.
Thirty-six per cent of respondents believe better compliance training focused on realistic scenarios and practical skills would reduce misconduct at work. Thirty-one per cent said they feel less protected as their company has pulled back from DEI initiatives.
TalentLMS released the survey Jan. 21.
