Moticheck co-founder Pille Parind-Nisula analyzed aggregated employee experience data from Moticheck clients between 2022 and 2025 to answer one central question: Which factors build — and which undermine — trust in the workplace? Pille also led the most recent Fontes Alumni Club seminar, where she presented this analysis, enriching expert presentations with supporting data and insights.
Psychological safety is a key driver of both employee well-being and team performance. When people feel free to express themselves without fear, collaboration and satisfaction grow — and as a bonus, untapped innovation potential surfaces. Based on over 200,000 responses, Moticheck’s data reveals which elements have the greatest impact on psychological safety in Estonia and the Baltics.
Top Drivers of Trust and Workplace Well-being
According to the data, the three strongest positive contributors to psychological safety are:
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People and Culture (+0.57)
Mutual trust, good relationships, and collaboration within teams are the most powerful enablers. When people feel heard and valued, they’re more willing to contribute and share their ideas.
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Work Design and Processes (+0.52)
Clear goals, roles, and structures provide a sense of security. Employees who know what is expected of them feel safer and more motivated.
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Inclusion (+0.47)
When employees are part of the decision-making process, not just executors, their sense of ownership and trust in the organization increases significantly.
Other contributors to psychological safety include recognition and balanced workloads, which create a daily sense that each person’s effort matters and is appreciated.
What Undermines Safety at Work?
The red areas in the analysis highlight the factors that tend to reduce trust and safety:
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Compensation (–0.28)
Fairness and transparency in pay practices are critical. When employees perceive inequity in compensation, trust disappears quickly.
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Internal Communication (–0.16)
When information doesn’t flow and people feel out of the loop, uncertainty rises and silence takes over. In fast-changing environments, expectations for communication are high — and so is its impact.
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Mental Health (–0.16)
Although the overall trend is positive, this indicator shows that mental health remains a leadership priority. More than wellness programs, it is compassionate leadership that most strongly supports mental well-being at work.
Safety Doesn’t Happen by Accident
Moticheck’s 2022–2025 data consistently show that psychological safety is a cultural phenomenon. It arises when people feel clarity, belonging, and fairness, and disappears when those are replaced by confusion, silence, and mistrust.
Workplace cultures built on collaboration, transparency in expectations and processes, and caring leadership don’t just improve safety — they boost team performance.
Our Recommendation
Map out your team’s experience regularly, across all dimensions of the employee journey. With Moticheck, companies can create a work environment where every person feels their voice matters and no one slips quietly into disengagement.
Please reach Pille directly to learn more about the details and data.
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