Ergonomics climate represents employee perceptions of the
extent to which the organization emphasizes and supports the
design and modification of work such that both performance and
well-being are maximized. We use “performance” here to refer to
an organization's successful functioning in an economic context,
which can include (but is not limited to): maximizing productivity
and efficiency, quality of product or service, sustainability as a
company, maintaining a competitive edge in the market, and
completing the tasks necessary for the organization to succeed
(Drucker, 1991). Employee well-being often refers to a focus on
ensuring that employees are happy and healthy, which can include
(but is not limited to): reducing their risk for injuries and illnesses,
addressing quality of work life issues, improving job satisfaction,
and supporting work-life balance (e.g., Cotton and Hart, 2003; Sears
et al., 2013). Although some efforts to design or modify work target
only performance or only safety, we argue that a positive ergonomics
climate reflects a value for both improved process and
safety outcomes, consistent with the traditional values of the field
of ergonomics. Thus, a company with a positive ergonomics climate
promotes the design and modification of work to support both
types of outcomes, rather than favoring one over the other.