Abstract — This paper presents the results of a study that
involved 26 virtual team workers distributed across all provinces
and territories of Canada. The data reveals a relationship
between virtual team workers that reported their work
environment to possess elements of a psychologically safe
workplace and that were willing to participate in virtual team
initiatives in the future. The study findings underscore what was
only suggested in earlier literature that it is indeed better from
the perspective of employee retention for employing
organizations to provide a psychologically safe work environment
for virtual team employees, rather than to experience regret as a
result of increased resources allocated to recruiting and a loss of
tacit memory due to a high level of organizational churn.
Recommendations for optimal workplace conditions are offered
that promotes a virtual team environment setting considered
psychologically safe.