Future-of-work strategies that prioritize psychological safety will help workers avoid burnout. Company leaders should listen to team needs, offer flexibility, and be open to hearing feedback. This article is part of a series called "Future of Work," which examines how business leaders are rethinking the workplace. Psychological safety at work is the idea that employees won't be punished, humiliated, or suffer other negative consequences when they express ideas, ask questions, bring up concerns, or even make mistakes. According to human-resources experts, it's more important than ever for companies and employees adjusting to a post-pandemic workplace to foster psychological safety. The concept of psychological safety isn't new. It's an issue, along with employee well-being and mental health, that's been on the minds of employers for some time, Stephanie Pronk, senior vice president at Aon, a firm specializing in risk, retirement, and insurance products, told Insider. The pandemic, social-injustice issues after the killing of George Floyd, and political turmoil of 2020 brought the topic to the forefront.