Psychological Safety and Employee Work Productivity: A Literature Review of Psychology and Human Resources
Abstract
Employee work productivity is a key factor influencing organizational effectiveness and competitiveness. In addition to technical and managerial factors, psychological factors have increasingly been recognized as important determinants of employee performance. One of these factors is psychological safety, defined as an individual's perception of being able to express opinions, ask questions, share ideas, and admit mistakes without fear of negative consequences. This study aims to review and synthesize previous research findings regarding the relationship between psychological safety and employee work productivity. This study employed a literature review method by analyzing relevant articles obtained from several academic databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Wiley Online Library, and Taylor & Francis Online. The selected literature was reviewed systematically based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings indicate that psychological safety has a positive relationship with employee work productivity. Employees who experience higher levels of psychological safety tend to engage in open communication, knowledge sharing, collaboration, and innovative behavior, which contribute to improved work effectiveness and efficiency. Furthermore, psychological safety enhances work engagement and organizational learning, leading to better performance outcomes. In contrast, low psychological safety may hinder communication, increase work stress, and reduce productivity. The review highlights the importance of creating a psychologically safe work environment as a strategy for improving employee productivity and supporting sustainable organizational performance.
References
Baer, M., & Frese, M. (2003). Innovation is not enough : climates for initiative and psychological safety , process innovations , and firm performance. 68(May 2002), 45–68.
Cakra, Y., Dewi, C., Carlinda, B., Bachri, D., & Sinaga, N. E. (2023). Mini Review: Hubungan Psychological Safety dengan Kreativitas pada Karyawan di Indonesia dan Cina. Prosiding Konferensi Mahasiswa Psikologi Indonesia, 4, 153–167.
Carmeli, A., Brueller, D., & Dutton, J. E. (2009). Learning Behaviours in the Workplace : The Role of High-quality Interpersonal Relationships and Psychological Safety. 98(November 2008), 81–98. https://doi.org/10.1002/sres
Clarissa Angela Uguy, F., Veronica Sinaga, Z., Khalishah Fitri, N., Alvita Ardiningrum, N., & Larasati Mangundjaya, W. (2025). Peran Keamanan Psikologis (Psychological Safety) Terhadap Pengembangan Inovasi. Jurnal Komunikasi dan Ilmu Sosial, 2(4), 170–179. https://doi.org/10.38035/jkis.v2i4.1521
Detert, J. R., Burris, E. R., Foote, N., Delaney-klinger, K., Ed-, A., Harrison, D., Connor, K. O., Pro-, C., Sauer, S., & Thomas-hunt, M. (2007). Leadership Behavior and Employee Voice: Is The Door Really Open? 50(4), 869–884.
Diptya Baswara, G. (2023). The Effect of Psychological Safety on Employee Creative Self Efficacy. Jurnal Ilmu Psikologi dan Kesehatan, 1(4), 301–308.
Dudung Abdullah. (2022). Pengaruh Komitmen Organisasional dan Lingkungan PsikologisTerhadap Produktivitas Kerja Karyawan. Journal of Innovation in Management, Accounting and Business, 1(1), 15–20.
Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383. https://doi.org/10.2307/2666999
Edmondson, A. C., Higgins, M., Singer, S., & Weiner, J. (2016). Understanding Psychological Safety in Health Care and Education Organizations: A Comparative Perspective. Research in Human Development, 13(1), 65–83. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2016.1141280
Edmondson, A. C., & Lei, Z. (2014). Psychological Safety: The History, Renaissance, and Future of an Interpersonal Construct. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 1, 23–43. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-031413-091305
Fadillah, Z. I. (2024). Pentingnya kesehatan mental karyawan di tempat kerja terhadap kinerja karyawan. JBK Jurnal Bimbingan Konseling, 2(2), 38–45. https://journal.sabajayapublisher.com/index.php/jbk
Fauziyah, J., Pongtuluran, J., & Aziz, M. (2016). Pengaruh Budaya Organisasi, Pengembangan Karier Dan Self Efficacy Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan. Journal Manajemen, 8(1), 43–54.
Fernandez, E., & Ali, M. M. (2025). Transformasi Digital Penjualan Sembako Offline to Online Pada Toko Sembako Sukses. 6(3), 1705–1714.
Newman, A., Donohue, R., & Eva, N. (2017). Psychological safety: A systematic review of the literature. Human Resource Management Review, 27(3), 521–535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2017.01.001
Nurdiawati, E., & Atiatunnisa, N. (2018). Hubungan Stres Kerja Fisiologis , Psikologis dan Perilaku. Falatehan Health Journal, 5(3), 117–122. www.journal.lppm-stikesfa.ac.id/ojs/index.php/FHJ
Ong, J. O., & Mahazan, M. (2020). Strategi Pengelolaan Sdm Dalam Peningkatan Kinerja. 2(1), 159–168.
Pahira, S. H., & Rinaldy, R. (2023). Pentingnya Manajemen Sumber Daya Manusia (MSDM) Dalam Meningkatkan Kinerja Organisasi. COMSERVA : Jurnal Penelitian dan Pengabdian Masyarakat, 3(03), 810–817. https://doi.org/10.59141/comserva.v3i03.882
Paresae, M. (2022). Pengaruh Motivasi Dan Disiplin Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Pada Kantor Dinas Pendidikan Kabupaten Mappi. Jurnal Ilmu Hukum, Humaniora dan Politik, 2(1), 58–66. https://doi.org/10.38035/jihhp.v2i1.858
Qodariah, Q. (2019). Analisis Deskripsi Pengaruh Work Engagement Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan: Ability (a), Effort (E), Support (S) Pt Surveyor Indonesia. Stability: Journal of Management and Business, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.26877/sta.v2i1.4033
Rahayu, R. S., & Sutisna, D. (2025). Pengaruh Keadilan Organisasi dan Stres Kerja Terhadap Counterproductive Work Behavior Dengan Leader Member Exchange Sebagai Variabel Moderasi ( Studi Pada ID Express Area. 6(4), 2435–2450.
Rony, Z. T. (2017). The Causes Factors of Employee Turnover Intention. ADRI International Journal of Psychology, 1, 1–13.
Saputra, G. N. W. H. I., & Natalia, A. H. (2021). Perubahan pada Lingkungan Kerja selama Pandemi : Dampaknya terhadap Produktivitas Karyawan. Ganaya Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Humaniora, 4(1), 300-308. http://jayapanguspress.penerbit.org/index.php/ganaya
Sartika, S., & Rachmat, I. (2023). Strategi Public Relations dalam Meningkatkan Citra Perusahaan pada PT. Telkomsel Tbk. Jurnal sosial dan sains, 3(2), 199–215. https://doi.org/10.59188/jurnalsosains.v3i2.698
Setiadi, B. (2023). The Determination of Psychological Safety, Resilience, and Transformational Leadership on Employee Performance Travel Company. 1(4), 160–172. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Setiawan, M. D., Bakri, M., & Ilyas, I. (2022). Pengaruh Disiplin Kerja dan Fasilitas Kerja Terhadap Produktivitas Kerja Karyawan Pada Kantor Dinas Pekerjaan Umum dan Penataan Ruang Kota Banda Aceh. Jurnal Serambi Konstruktivis, 4(2), 109–116.
Vian, G. P., & Sugianto, H. A. T. (2025). Analisis Dampak Kepemimpinan Dan Komunikasi Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan DPMPTSP Di Kabupaten Perbatasan. RIGGS: Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Business, 4(2), 3001–3012. https://doi.org/10.31004/riggs.v4i2.965
Walumbwa, F. O., & Schaubroeck, J. (2009). Leader Personality Traits and Employee Voice Behavior : Mediating Roles of Ethical Leadership and Work Group Psychological Safety. 94(5), 1275–1286. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015848
Wicaksana, S. A. (2025). Peran Psychological Safety dalam Memperkuat Cybersecurity Awareness Menuju Cybersecurity Culture di Organisasi (The Role of Psychological Safety in Strengthening Cybersecurity Awar. April. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/390478729
Wicaksono, R. M., Ali, H., & Faroman, S. (2022). Review MSDM: Pengaruh Pelatihan, Lingkungan Kerja dan Disiplin terhadap Kinerja dan Kepuasan Kerja. Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan dan Ilmu Sosial, 3(2).