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Many employers are now far more attuned to their employees' vicarious trauma exposure, but what they might not realise is their high performers are the most at risk, and that the signs can stay "hidden" in these workers for much longer, according to a mental health expert.

Vicarious trauma is now higher on employers' radars since 2022's landmark Kozarov decision (reported in detail here) "set a very strong legal precedent", and in light of developments in psychosocial safety regulation, says national director of psychological services at the Centre for Corporate Health, Rachel Clements.

But in a new HR Daily Premium Q&A, Clements says she'd like more awareness of the fact that when a team is exposed to vicarious trauma, high-performing employees usually face the highest risk of psychological injury.

"What we often find is that those employees tend to be taking on higher caseloads," she explains, "and sometimes they're more likely to push through without disclosure that this might be impacting on them..."