Do your employees know how to report misconduct?

A recent survey found that 46% of employees do not speak up after observing misconduct. This is a serious problem, as it can lead to several negative consequences, including:

• Increased risk of safety hazards
• Decreased productivity
• Damage to the company’s reputation
• Increased employee turnover

There are a few reasons why employees may not speak up. Some may be afraid of retaliation, while others may not feel comfortable speaking up in front of a group. Still others may not know how to effectively communicate their concerns.

To help employees feel more comfortable speaking up, it is important to create a culture of openness and transparency. This means creating an environment where employees feel safe to share their concerns, without fear of retaliation. It also means providing employees with the skills they need to effectively communicate their concerns.

There are several things that organizations can do to help employees develop the skills they need to speak up. These include:

• Training: Provide employees with training on how to identify and report misconduct. This training should cover the company’s policies on misconduct, as well as how to effectively communicate concerns.
• Role-playing: Provide employees with opportunities to practice speaking up in a safe environment. This can be done through role-playing exercises or through simulations.
• Feedback: Provide employees with feedback on their speaking up skills. This feedback can be given by managers, peers, or mentors.

For more information developing Speak Up skills, view our checklist.

By taking these steps, organizations can help create a culture of openness and transparency, where employees feel comfortable speaking up which can lead to the following benefits:

• Increased safety
• Increased productivity
• Improved company reputation
• Reduced employee turnover