What is Employee Silence, and How to Resolve It

Employee silence doesn't allude to an employee with an introvert nature. It's rather a situation where employees rather not talk about matters related to the job, if not related with a boss or coworker(s). And it can be detrimental to the success of the company.

This can be a thorny issue among professionals, as employee voice, which is the antithesis of employee silence, might cost them a job. Some employees wouldn't care at all, as they have other things in mind. (Married employees rather mind their own business while those with young families don't want to get into a compromise.) On the other hand, employee silence can be seen as an employee's attempt to withhold information. It might be a ground for legal action if it's intentional on the employee's part. There have been many cases in America, which doesn't necessarily serve as a moral lesson for employees who have been dealing with issues in the office. Whether it's trivial in nature or something that can change the dynamics in the company, employee silence is an issue that can be as relevant as office discrimination (or something that will recall the Me Too movement).

This post addresses the possible causes and what can be done to resolve it.

Why Employees Remain Silent (and What They Should Do Instead)

The information can be interpreted as negative or threatening to the employer. It can be a faulty item that affects the Internet connection. It can also be an equipment (or any part) in the office that needs repair, but has been neglected for some time. It has something to do with an employee that has been causing problems on the relationship between colleagues. It will be a natural thing to complain about it to the superior, but many employees rather not talk about it. They must suspect that their superior(s) look the other way. (They might be lazy to act on the matter, if not there's not a budget for such things.) A concerned employee can bring it up in a polite manner, even offer a suggestion. If that employee is willing to do something, then there can be a solution on the horizon. The next item is linked to this one.

There's a trust issue. Employers might not be willing to resolve the matter because they think it's not worth the money. In other words, they won't make an investment on their people if they think that the employees can't deliver the goods. It's based on their evaluation of their history of their performance in the company during the past year (or more). There's a trust issue, which can be resolved sooner or later. (The worst scenario that can happen in this case is the dismissal of the employee performing below expectation. The same employee might have committed a serious offense, which is against company policy.) Another scenario is a multinational company (or an office having employees of different nationalities or coming from different backgrounds). A meeting can be an arranged between parties, where an agreement can be reached afterward. The harsh cause, which can lead to a serious trust problem, can be another case.

The office is becoming a hostile environment. This kind of situation happens when an employee's suggestion is rejected, if not taken seriously at all. A dissent among employees follows, which can have serious consequences if not deal with it accordingly. A worse scenario involves an employer who doesn't like any kind of confrontation, letting the next one in line deal with such matter. It's unfair to the latter, if not right. (It can suggest that the employer is not a good boss at all.) Discussing it can be a tricky part, as loyalty to the company will come into play here. Any employee won't have any peace of mind, telling family and friends about it. If no such action can be done here, then the employee must have some serious thinking to do.

What Are The Other Means to Resolve Employee Silence

Legal action seems to be a logical step, but think long and hard about it. This involves lots lot time and money, which may not be an issue to some employees. Is it really worth it? This is not another Hollywood production in the making, such that you might be compensated later. And there's no such thing as a miracle to give this matter a different perspective. You might look for another job.

Finding another job is a sensible thing for many reasons. You don't want to burn bridges especially if you're not thinking of transferring to another field. There's a likely chance that you would bump into your soon-to-be ex-colleagues, and the last thing that you want is an awkward situation. It may be worse if you have a personal relationship with that individual.

Think if over. Discuss it with the people that mean to you most. The most telling sign is if it's making you restless in the office. Job security is important, probably more valuable than a nice-looking office and some perks attached to it.