Safety Coaching Boosts Employee Engagement And Trust: IIM-Indore Study

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): A study by Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore reveals that safety coaching at the workplace offers far more than just accident prevention—it can significantly boost employee engagement, organisational trust and overall productivity.

The study, conducted by Prof Jatin Pandey and DPM alumni Mudit Shukla and Divya Tyagi, explored the impact of safety coaching on work engagement, revealing that organisations can significantly improve employee motivation and trust through effective safety initiatives.

The study sheds light on how workplace safety measures, initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, have broader implications beyond employee well-being, especially with regard to work engagement.

The study, based on social exchange theory, found that safety coaching does not directly influence work engagement.

Instead, its effectiveness depends on employees perceiving the coaching as appropriate and beneficial, leading to increased organisational trust and satisfaction with corporate safety initiatives.

This research highlighted the spillover effects of safety coaching, showing how it fosters a positive work environment that enhances commitment, trust and engagement. It identifies three key ways in which safety coaching impacts work engagement.

First, perceived effectiveness plays a crucial role, as employees engage more when they see safety coaching as meaningful and beneficial. Second, organisational trust increases when organisations invest in safety coaching, making employees feel valued and more committed to their roles.

Third, corporate safety satisfaction significantly contributes to work engagement, as employees who are satisfied with their organisation's safety efforts show higher levels of motivation and performance. These insights underscore the importance of workplace safety beyond compliance, demonstrating that safety coaching can drive overall employee well-being and productivity.

For companies aiming to improve work engagement, the study offers several actionable strategies. “Organisations should implement effective safety coaching by ensuring that training programmes are well-structured and tailored to employees' needs. Building a culture of trust is essential, demonstrating an organisational commitment to employee safety and well-being,” said Pandey.

Besides, companies should enhance communication on safety initiatives, clearly articulating the benefits of safety coaching to employees and reinforcing its importance. Finally, fostering employee involvement in safety discussions and decision-making processes can increase their sense of ownership and engagement in workplace safety, he added.

What is Safety Coaching

Safety coaching is a technique that uses interpersonal interaction to analyse and influence the environmental factors that affect safety-related behaviour. It focuses on understanding what drives these behaviours and how to modify them effectively.