'The foundation of any good relationship is trust, which is no different in the workplace'
Job seekers believe that honesty in the workplace is important, according to a Canadian report.
And almost all (93%) agree a work environment that allows employees and managers to be honest with one another is essential to a company’s success, reports Express Employment Professionals.
Nearly nine in 10 (89%) job seekers believe that honest workplace communication is critical for a productive workforce, and 75% say employees should feel comfortable discussing their personal issues with their manager if it is impacting their day-to-day work.
“The foundation of any good relationship is trust, which is no different in the workplace,” said Bill Stoller, Express Employment International CEO. “Similar to other leadership training, managers can significantly benefit from structured programs that emphasize healthy communication and the ability to handle challenging conversations.”
Over a third (35%) of professionals do not trust the leaders of their organization to do what is right, according to a previous Robert Walters Canada report.
What is the value of honesty in the workplace?
Companies can reap significant benefits from fostering more honest communication, according to Express’ report based on two surveys: one among over 500 hiring decision-makers, conducted May 16 – June 3, 2024; and another among over 500 Canadian adults, conducted May 28 – June 10, 2024.
The benefits include:
- Employee morale increases (66%)
- Employee loyalty (60%)
- Productivity increase (56%)
- Fewer conflicts and disagreements (51%)
- More accountability (48%)
Also, nearly half (47%) of hiring managers say honest workplace communication decreases turnover.
Meanwhile, when employees are not able to speak honestly at work job seekers report that employee morale falls (58%), productivity decreases (51%), employee burnout worsens (48%), workplace resentment jumps (47%) and employee turnover increases (44%).
Employee happiness plummeted in the second quarter of 2024 after plunging to a four-year low in May, according to data previously released by BambooHR.
How are employers doing when it comes to honesty?
Most companies (84%) feel they have created a workplace where employees can be honest, and more than three-quarters (76%) also believe their company has the right systems and tools in place to allow for constructive criticism to be received well.
As a result, nearly all employers (96%) feel their employees can speak honestly with anyone at the company regarding their concerns or issues — most commonly with their supervisor (66%) and their colleagues (57%).
Most job seekers (70%) agree their company encourages honest communication. The majority report it is easy to receive constructive feedback from a supervisor (76%), set professional boundaries so their work is not impacted by personal issues (73%) and be honest with a supervisor about issues they have with the company (63%).
However, less than half of job seekers (40%) report it is easy to discuss personal issues that are impacting their work with their manager.
Honesty is important in workplace investigations, according to a previous report.
“Honesty and integrity help team members build strong relationships with each other and with clients and customers,” said Indeed.
“These qualities can help improve overall productivity and achieve more success as a team. By understanding how to integrate these qualities into your work, you become a more reliable and accountable employee.”
