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Speak up culture

Highlights of the ATO's 2026 employee census results on psychological safety.

Published 6 October 2026

Speak up culture index score

Your speak up culture index score is 74. Variance from:

  • 2025 is no variance
  • the APS overall is +1
  • larger operational agencies is +1
  • extra-large sized agencies is +1.

Speak up culture results

The measure of speak up culture is based on psychological safety, which is the belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns or mistakes, and the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking.

Overall results on speak up culture

Statement

Positive

Neutral

Negative

The people in my workgroup value others' individual skills and talents

85%

11%

5%

People in my workgroup are comfortable checking with each other if they have questions about the right way to do something

89%

7%

3%

The people in my workgroup are able to bring up problems and tough issues

82%

12%

6%

If you make a mistake in my workgroup it tends to be held against you (Reverse scored: % Positive score represents those who responded Disagree or Strongly disagree)

65%

23%

12%

Speak up culture variance 1

Statement

Variance from 2025

Variance from APS overall

The people in my workgroup value others' individual skills and talents

+1

+2

People in my workgroup are comfortable checking with each other if they have questions about the right way to do something

+1

+2

The people in my workgroup are able to bring up problems and tough issues

0

+3

If you make a mistake in my workgroup it tends to be held against you (Reverse scored: % Positive score represents those who responded Disagree or Strongly disagree)

+1

−2

Speak up culture variance 2

Statement

Variance from larger operational agencies

Variance from extra-large sized agencies

The people in my workgroup value others' individual skills and talents

+3

+3

People in my workgroup are comfortable checking with each other if they have questions about the right way to do something

+2

+2

The people in my workgroup are able to bring up problems and tough issues

+3

+3

If you make a mistake in my workgroup it tends to be held against you (Reverse scored: % Positive score represents those who responded Disagree or Strongly disagree)

+1

+2

 

QC108139