P-458 Psychosocial Safety Climate: Does It Matter Who and When You Ask?

Abstract Introduction Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) captures employee perceptions of an organization’s management of their psychological well-being and predicts work stressors and resources. This study investigates the influence of assessment content and leadership position on these perceptions. Methods We surveyed leaders in a German municipal administration using an online questionnaire. Participants were asked about their knowledge and the significance of various organizational measures for psychosocial health prevention. Using randomization, half of the participants reported on PSC before, while the other half reported after responding to the presented organizational measures. Results About one quarter of leaders participated, and 186 provided complete data for analysis out of 209 participants. The order of asking and leadership hierarchy did not significantly affect PSC ratings. There were no significant mean differences in PSC scores between before (Mean = 35.6, SD = 6.89) and after (Mean = 33.5, SD = 7.95) reporting. The PSC rating was also similar for lower leadership (Mean = 34.6, SD = 7.48) and higher leadership (Mean = 34.0, SD = 7.78). The four PSC subscales also showed non-significant differences. The overall PSC 12 Sum Score was 34.5. Discussion/Conclusion The PSC 12 measure appears relatively unaffected by external stimuli related to present psychosocial safety interventions. Like past research, also leadership level does not significantly impact PSC scores. According to the Australian benchmark, the studied workplace may pose a high risk for psychological health issues for employees. However, future research should explore the transferability of this benchmark to different cultures.