Workplace Safety is the Next Focus in the #EmpowermentEra

This article was originally published in the February issue of the “On the Front Lines” newsletter by Travis Vance in Charlotte.

Employee safety has always been important, but the recent public shaming of allegedly hazardous workplaces reveals that the public’s disdain for companies that provide unsafe environments for their employees is increasing. No longer can you ignore the public cries to eliminate or minimize occupational hazards, as you risk becoming the latest public face of what has essentially become the “Empowerment Era” – a time when people from all walks of life not only feel emboldened to expose “bad players” but now have the digital means by which to amplify and give power to their voices. This article looks at the different stages of the Empowerment Era – starting with the Fight for $15, followed by the #MeToo movement, and finally the #WorkSafe movement, and what employers can do to be prepared.