Refusing to complete an employer survey...

danielley

About 2 years ago our HR department set up a employee survey on the company intranet with various questions.

They said the survey was confidential and would be used to highlight any areas for improvement and to gauge the views of the employees blah blah

A while after completing the survey I was called into a meeting with my manager and he had a copy of the survey and we spent the next half hour going through my answers in mortifying detail! So much for confidential!

Fast forward to today (2years later) and we have been asked to complete another survey, but as yet I have not done so. Today we have had an email from HR saying that there has of yet been a poor response and asking for it to be completed by the end of the day.

I have just plucked up the courage to email HR and I have said.


"I am one of the people who hasn’t filled it in yet…

Can I say something off the record? Last time we completed the survey, I think that (my manager's name) went through the questionnaire answers, question by question with me asking me why I had put certain things, which was quite awkward and unsettling. I know that this happened to at least one other person with their manager as well.

I know the form states it can be completed in confidence, but although your name is optional, you are asked for your department and length of service which would not take a genius to work out who you are.

I haven’t really got anything controversial to say, but because I feel it is monitored and could go against me, I wouldn’t want to complete it honestly for fear of reproach, but I also don’t want to fill it in untruthfully as that defeats the object of the exercise.

I think that quite a few people who feel this way. If you could provide paper copies and they would be truly confidential I think you would have a better response.

Sorry about this, I absolutely hate confrontation, but I just wanted to let you know that I wasn’t ignoring your email!

Thanks "

I am waiting for a response.

WHY OH WHY DO I FEEL SICK TO THE STOMACH!!!!!

Should I have just filled it in, lied through my teeth and kept my head down??

Googlewhacker

The point you should have raised is with someone above your manager as to why he was going through something that is confidential.

danielley

I know, I did consider it at the time, but I didn't want to rock the boat any further as I thought enough damage had been done.

Plus my manager is the bosses best friend

Well i've rocked the boat now, I hope that they let us complete paper ones and I am not penalised for having an opinion twice!

williacg

I would have done the same thing. Lets hope that HR addresses the matter thoroughly.

Hope all goes well, and try not to worry too much, you've done nothing wrong.

danielley

williacg wrote: »

I would have done the same thing. Lets hope that HR addresses the matter thoroughly.

Hope all goes well, and try not to worry too much, you've done nothing wrong.

Thanks so much. x

williacg

If there are any repurcussions don't just take it on the chin.

Let us know how you get on.

patman99

We had to do a survey like this a couple of years back. We were all gathered in the works canteen, and the HR manageress watched as we filled them in.

danielley

After a restless night, I have arrived in work this morning to the following email.

"Thanks for your email,

I’ve only just had a chance to read it now but would like to discuss with you a bit more (off the record if you like).

I’m out of the office tomorrow but back in Wednesday if you want to have a chat then.

I understand your comments as that wasn’t the intention of the last survey

Many thanks"





I feel so much better, I know deep down that I haven't done anything wrong, but I am just wary that I will be marked down as a trouble maker and I'm not, I just think that surveys like this are pointless unless they are honestly answered.

Will let you know how I get on, on Wednesday.

richardvc

We have these surveys where I work - like yours they are supposed to be confidential but with questions like 'what department' and 'length of service' etc it does narrow it down very quickly.

Sadly, because this has become the most non-confidential 'confidential survey' that a large proportion of the staff will not participate.

Yet another example of 'indirect' harrassment in the workplace. Your card has been marked so I would be very cagey when you have your meeting with HR - 'off the record' counts for nothing now.

shikoku

I wouldn't trust HR, in fact I wouldn't have this discussion at all.

danielley

We have been told we must participate, if I could just abstain I would have.

I dont know what came over me yesterday; normally I would have just completed it and lied through my teeth! I dont have a fiesty bone in my body normally!