The Climate According to Whom? Does It Matter Who Reports PSC?

Abstract

Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) is a construct representing convergence of perceptions among employees within organisations and workgroups regarding how the organisation handles employee psychological wellbeing. Whilst considerable research has established levels of agreement among employees required for a climate to exist, much less research has focused on whether perceptions of climate are affected by rank level. This study investigated differences in perceptions of PSC according to employee rank level, and the effect that different vantage points might have on accurately predicting future psychological health (psychological distress, emotional exhaustion, sleep quality and PTSD) and work outcomes (cynicism, professional efficacy, engagement, satisfaction) amongst the more populous lower ranked workers. A police organisation was chosen as the context for this investigation, as they are typically hierarchical (sergeants supervising lower ranked constables) and policing is often emotionally risky. PSC was operationalised at the station level (24 stations) using two different samples (split sample Time 1 only constables, n = 180; and Time 1 sergeants, n = 87); change in outcomes were assessed for other constables in the same station over a 14 month period (n = 139). PSC was perceived more favourably (higher) by sergeants than constables but the effect was not significant. There was no correlation between PSC perceived by sergeants and constables suggesting multiple PSC realities. PSC assessed by constables was a more accurate predictor of constable health, and, PSC assessed by sergeants was a more accurate predictor of constable work outcomes. These results suggest that PSC theory may be advanced by specifying climate perceptor organisational rank level. Practically, the results imply the need to seek different informants depending on the outcome one wants to predict. However in the case that research blends equally weighted different rank perceptions predictions of outcomes (in both health and work domains) is most probable.