Creating a Just Culture: Learning, Trust, and Accountability in Workplace Safety and Beyond
Select the FIRST area in which your presentation best fits.
Human Resource Development and Training
Presentation Format Requested
Concurrent Session (45 minutes)
Session Abstract
Workplace culture is an important driver of employee learning and safety. Using safety training examples, presenters explore workplace learning as an means to (1) promote a culture of trust, collaboration, and accountability, (2) give workers an active voice in improving their work environment and (3) build a just workplace culture.
Target Audience
This session is relevant to adult educators, critical management studies scholars and practitioners, human resource development professionals, and any individuals interested in learning more about building just workplace cultures through adult learning.
Learning Outcomes
1. Describe the components of a just workplace culture
2. Identify adult education opportunities in the workplace that would benefit from a just cultural perspective
3. Make a plan to apply just culture practices in their own work or training context
Session Description
As companies are pushed to optimize operations and maximize profits, there is a growing need to value all employees’ input. Workplace safety is one entry point into collaboration, because keeping workers safe is a mutual goal of workers and managers. If organizations can create an inclusive space where workers can raise concerns and discuss innovative solutions, everyone will benefit from the learning, thereby improving the organization.
The idea of a just workplace culture originates with workplace safety scholars like Sidney Dekker and Todd Conklin. Rather than the traditional approach of assigning a single cause to a safety accident, they advocate critically examining the system in which people work to determine the underlying causes and opportunities for change. Instead of blamed and punished, workers are part of the discussion so everyone can learn and improve. By giving workers a voice, both sides begin to build trust, which improves attitudes and engagement. Harnessing the collective power of managers and workers enables organizations to create safe and profitable collaborative learning environments.
In this session, presenters will give an overview of just cultures in the context of workplace safety. Participants will then break into role-play groups to evaluate a case study.
Format & Technique
To begin, presenters will share a brief overview of just culture in the workplace, drawing from examples around workplace safety. Next, participants will be invited to break into small groups and use a case study role play to apply just culture concepts to address a real safety accident. Lastly, presenters will facilitate a discussion to review the learning experience, help attendees connect to and consider applying the information to their own work or training contexts, and answer any remaining questions.