Psychological Safety Amidst ICE Raids
Across the US, ICE raids have caused fear among many workers. Even those who are legal citizens are in fear of being wrongfully taken by ICE, and there is additional fear for family members and friends who may not be legal citizens at this time.
It is critical to not only have clear policies in place for handling these raids if they were to happen, but also to ensure employees have safe spaces to talk about their concerns. Physical safety is a concern here — and don’t forget that psychological safety is as well.
Psychological safety is a term coined by researcher Amy Edmondson that describes a work environment where employees can speak up and show up as their full, authentic selves without fear of retribution or exclusion. Her research shows that psychologically safe teams outperform those that are not in productivity, risk mitigation, safety, engagement, and innovation. Why? Because employees feel safe asking questions, speaking up, and/or challenging the status quo, and this often leads to better solutions.
It is important to remember that psychological safety is situational. Related to ICE raids, an employee may feel safe working their day-to-day job, but not feel safe if they are unsure how their employer will respond if they are fearful of a raid due to the potential impact on them or their family.
Starting with communications acknowledging the reality of the situation and that you, as an employer, are committed to supporting your employees, will go a long way. From there, you can articulate your policies with examples of how they play out in real situations. And then create go-to people and spaces for employees to air their fears and concerns so you can respond. Ongoing communication reinforcing your support is also important.
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