Small Business Perceptions Differ on Tackling Workplace Safety: Survey

October 8, 2025

A new survey finds that small business employers and employees differ in their workplace safety priorities.

Notable gaps in perception regarding training, communication and safety priorities were uncovered in Pie Insurance’s 2025 Employee Voice on Workplace Safety Report.

The InsurTech’s survey of over 1,000 small business employees shows alignment on core safety goals, with both employers and employees agreeing that approximately half of workplace injuries were reported as preventable and that building safer workplaces is a top priority.

But the research also revealed that 67 percent of employees have safety concerns at work, with more than half of employees (58 percent) having witnessed workplace injuries in the past year.

Almost 43 percent report feeling pressured to work through unsafe conditions.

The report reveals a fundamental shift in safety priorities, with 32 percent of employees citing mental health as their primary workplace safety concern, surpassing physical injury (20 percent), environmental hazards (9 percent), or equipment safety (4 percent).

Though 91 percent of employers previously surveyed expressed confidence in their ability to address mental health issues, only 62 percent of employees shared that confidence.

Workplace stress affected employees’ personal lives, with 36 percent of employees reporting that it led to reduced motivation, increased anxiety, and sleep difficulties.

The report identifies key opportunities to build stronger safety cultures through improved communication and training.

Most employees (83 percent) feel comfortable reporting safety concerns, but 17 percent hesitate to speak up, with more than a third concerned about retaliation (35 percent). Others reported not wanting to seem difficult (33 percent) or doubted that action would be taken (31 percent).

More than half (63 percent) of employers believe they provide structured safety training, but only 29 percent of employees report receiving it regularly, with 28 percent never having received formal workplace safety training.

Employees want practical solutions to safety, like flexible work hours or remote options (19 percent), and mental health day allowances (17 percent), the survey found.

Safe spaces to voice concerns without fear of retaliation are also important, and 22 percent of employees want more participation in safety decision-making, indicating they want to be part of the solution.

“What I find most meaningful about this data is that it shows the gap between what employers think they’re providing and what employees actually experience, and that’s where the real opportunity lies,” said Carla Woodard, SVP of Claims at Pie. “Small businesses that close this divide by genuinely engaging employees in safety decisions won’t just prevent injuries, they’ll build modern safety cultures that attract top talent and deliver measurably safer outcomes. That’s the kind of competitive advantage you can’t buy.”

“Closing the safety divide between employers and employees isn’t just about new programs; it’s about ensuring existing efforts actually reach and resonate with workers,” the report noted. “Small businesses that bridge these perception gaps stand to improve both employee well-being and their bottom line.”