Psychological safety has become one of the most important and widely referenced concepts in today’s workplaces. And rightly so. When done well, it creates environments where people feel safe to speak up, ask questions, admit mistakes and contribute without fear of humiliation or retaliation.   But lately, I’ve been noticing a troubling trend. I had an intriguing conversation with a colleague earlier this week and learned that she’d been seeing and hearing some of the same.  

When most people hear the term “fit for duty” they think of impairment related to drugs and alcohol. Maybe fatigue. Maybe physical limitations. But the reality of today’s workplaces is far more complex. Impairment isn’t just chemical, and it isn’t always visible. Stress, grief, burnout, anxiety, trauma, conflict and personal crises can leave someone just as distracted, exhausted and mentally checked out as any substance. And from a safety standpoint, impairment is impairment.

Legislative changes can feel daunting for employers — rewriting policies, retraining staff and keeping up with compliance deadlines. But...