'Employees who feel they can speak honestly at work also report being more productive,' says expert about survey results
While a majority of Canadian workers feel they can be honest with their managers, personal matters remain a sensitive topic, according to a recent report.
Overall, 70% of job seekers say their workplaces promote a safe environment for open communication, reports Express Employment Professionals.
Most of those surveyed said they find it easy to:
And Canadian hiring managers are optimistic about the state of workplace communication. An overwhelming 84% believe their companies have succeeded in creating an environment that fosters honest dialogue.
Additionally, 76% of hiring managers report that their workplaces have robust systems and tools to facilitate constructive feedback, while 96% of these managers feel that employees can voice their concerns with anyone at the company, including managers (66%) and colleagues (57%).
Job seekers believe that honesty in the workplace is important. 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, according to a previous Express report.
However, a significant number are hesitant to discuss issues of a personal nature that may impact their work: only 40% of workers feel at ease speaking with their managers about this, according to Express’ recent survey of over 500 Canadians conducted in June.
This varies by generation, with Gen Z being the most likely to feel comfortable discussing personal issues (46%) and Gen X being the least likely (37%).
Meanwhile, three-quarters of managers believe that employees should feel comfortable bringing up personal issues that affect their work.
“This is of concern because employees that feel they can speak honestly at work also report being more productive,” says Express.
While most job seekers don’t feel comfortable discussing personal issues, three-quarters of hiring managers (76%) think employees should be comfortable having that discussion.
“Creating a culture of honesty is not just about encouraging transparency among employees; it’s about equipping business leaders with the right tools and training to have open, honest conversations,” said Bill Stoller, Express Employment International CEO.
“This survey shows each generation brings a unique communication style to the workplace, and it’s important for management to adapt their approach and provide tailored training to ensure effective communication across all age groups.”
Here’s how “honest feedback” helps female leadership thrive.
Here are some of the best strategies for employers to foster an environment of trust in the workplace, according to Achievers:
Many Canadians do not trust their CEO, according to a previous report from Robert Walters.
