The Benefits of an Anonymous Employee Suggestion Box
A simple anonymous employee suggestion box can be a valuable asset for your organization. Employees at all levels often have unique perspectives and ideas, but for a variety of reasons, may not feel comfortable sharing them. An anonymous employee suggestion box levels the playing field and creates a safe space for all employees to share their ideas.
Take for example a new entry-level employee at a large organization. Armed with a fresh perspective, he or she may notice inefficiencies or have new ideas for products or services. Instead of sharing them, however, the new employee decides to hold back to avoid making waves and potentially irritating others. Soon he or she becomes complacent and the new ideas are lost forever.
Most people tend to tailor their feedback to avoid irritating or challenging others. Employees may hesitate to engage in a candid discussion when they feel their words can alter or jeopardize a relationship. This is especially true for those at the bottom of an organization, but can also be found at all levels.
Giving your employees a safe, anonymous tool to share new ideas can both improve your company and help people feel valued and invested in your organization. An appreciated employee will continue taking initiative and hopefully inspire others to do the same.
An Anonymous Employee Suggestion Box Can...
- Allow for new perspectives and ways of thinking
Research suggests that anonymity breeds honesty. If an employee does not feel comfortable sharing their ideas in the open, they will keep silent and withold knowledge. - Give a voice to those who feel disenfranchised
Not every employee has the confidence to speak freely. This can be out of fear of making waves or feeling intimidated in the past. - Reduce costs and increase revenue
Employees at all levels may have great ideas for cutting costs or for new revenue streams. They may just need the right platform to share them. - Promote active participation among all stakeholders
Diverse teams include differing personality types. Those who eschew conflict may be less likely to participate in open conversation. - Shed light on a dishonest or illegal practices
Whistleblowing can come with great personal and professional risk. Tools that guarantee anonymity can help employees feel comfortable reporting workplace violations. - Improve customer loyalty
Customers have great ideas too, but may not feel comfortable sharing them for many reasons.
How Is Incogneato Different from Other Employee Suggestion Boxes?
One of the key differences between Incogneato and other employee suggestion boxes is the ability to hold an anonymous conversation. Often times that initial suggestion leads to more questions that would otherwise go unanswered. Anonymous chat lets you immediately ask a follow up question or for further clarification. Plans also include customization options, box restrictions, and much more.
Of course, there's also the fact that Incogneato is less expensive than most competitors. How do we do it? We run lean. We do not employ a sales force so our team is solely focused on making the best product we can.
We believe that all organizations should be able to safely collect anonymous feedback without having to pay hefty monthly fees.
Supporting Research
There is ample research that supports the benefits of an anonymous employee suggestion box. Here are a few we often cite:
- Studies conducted by Professor Craig Scott at the University of Texas and Professor Stephen Rains at the University of Arizona suggest that there is an important place for anonymous communication within organizations. Additionally, he found that anonymity provides "less enfranchised organizational members with important communication opportunities."
- According to the Harvard Business Review, respondents are more likely to participate in surveys if they are confident that personal anonymity is guaranteed.
- Professor Peter Cappelli of the Wharton Business School argues that anonymous feedback is an effective tool for improving company culture because it empowers conscientious employees to bring their full capabilities to bear on improving the company, without fear of reprisal.
