Singaporeans stay silent at work out of rational fear, not apathy, says leadership consultant

Crystal Lim-Lange, founder and CEO of consultancy Forest Wolf, told Vogue Singapore's inaugural Wellness Day on June 6 that Singaporeans often avoid speaking up at work because they accurately perceive that their workplace is not safe enough — not because they have nothing to say. She argued that employees constantly weigh whether speaking up will be "rewarded or punished," and that companies must address psychological safety across four dimensions — learner safety, contributor safety, challenger safety, and inclusion — before asking employees to voice concerns. Lim-Lange expressed scepticism toward corporate "speak up" workshops that treat employee silence as a skills gap rather than a structural problem.