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Only 14 out of over 300 postings included a warning, in my analysis. Most of those were included as part of responsibilities or qualifications for the position rather than as a notice about working conditions.
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To ensure that Trust & Safety effectively protects users and society, companies must support T&S professionals’ wellbeing.
Warnings or notices in job postings about the content of the work are a first step. Here are two examples:
“Please note that this role includes exposure to sensitive, graphic, and potentially disturbing content.” - Posting for a Trust and Safety Wrangler, Automattic
“Note that this role involves grappling with questions of sensitive uses of OpenAI’s technology, including at times erotic, violent, or otherwise-disturbing material. At times, this role will involve engaging with such content, as may be necessary to inform our policy approaches.” - Posting for a Product Policy Manager, OpenAI
My research reveals both personal and organizational strategies can enhance both effectiveness and wellbeing. However, relying on personal strategies requires professionals to be responsible for their own wellbeing in the face of an unending stream of horrible content, and under conditions which they cannot control. My data shows that organizational factors are pivotal for worker wellbeing.
Personal Strategies
Feel like you're part of the solution
Have a motivation to protect or work on behalf of users
Compartmentalize (separate life from work)
Organizational strategies
Training on coping strategies
Wellness resources
Paid time off
Better pay
Limits on hours reviewing content
A soft landing when professionals need to switch roles
Team cohesion
A culture of wellness
De-stigmatization of mental health issues related to the work
Opportunities to connect to other T&S professionals
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