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Staff Survey

10 replies

AzureBlue99 · 27/11/2023 10:04

2 years ago we had a staff survey - meant to be anonymous, but of course management and HR try to find out who has said what, particularly in negative situations. A colleague and I had an issue at work, now resolved. My colleague is well liked, me not so much. She also was unfairly treated in the past. She told me she had gone to town in the survey, with some scathing comments. I kept my comments bland.

The problem is, the comments were attributed to me. Because she is the Nice One and is nice on the surface but angry beneath. And it has caused me a lot of issues over the last 2 years, it rankles as it is so unfair, my reputation with senior management has taken a hit. I know HR should not try and find out who said what, but they do, which is why I am always bland in responding.

She recently had a work request turned down, so she feels disgruntled again. I am not involved.

We now have a Staff Survey, and it is going to happen again. She is going to let rip, and I will get the blame.

I have no way of stopping this. But I thought that I could add something to my responses along the lines of - These are comments of AzureBlue99 on each response so any other comments are not attributed to me. I am going to look batshit but better that than the scenario I faced before.

This has really been playing on my mind. Should I do this, is there any other wording - i.e happy to have comments published etc.

OP posts:
NotLactoseFree · 27/11/2023 10:09

I would be far far more concerned about a staff survey that claims to be anonymous but isn't and if that is true, that speaks to a massive issue with the culture of the organisation and I'd be aiming to leave.

Sorry, not what you're asking, but it's outrageous.

Pootles34 · 27/11/2023 10:13

Hang on, how do you know that it's the staff survey causing you issues? You say you're not well liked, why do you say that?

If you're more combative than her, that might be the source of the issues perhaps?

saveforthat · 27/11/2023 10:16

Staff surveys are not compulsory. Don't complete it and tell everyone you haven't completed it.

AzureBlue99 · 27/11/2023 10:46

I am not combative but she is so nice (a smiley maternal figure) on the surface that senior management have no clue to her simmering resentment. They have assumed it is me because I am personable but not the smiley person she appears to be. I have no issues work wise anymore. She was badly discriminated against before, so any new issue she has is added to her baggage. I can see why but it has caused me difficulties.

I know management should not try and find out but HR is a cliquey leaky boat and they have indicated that is the case. I am not in the clique so can't have a word on the quiet.

I could not fill it out, but nobody would be interested if I told them, and when the results are in, that would get forgotten. This is the second big organisation where the survey results are picked apart to try and find who said what.

OP posts:
Neriah · 27/11/2023 11:02

I know what you mean because I don't trust our "anonymous staff survey" either - if it's anonymous I can see no reason why a need a link with my payroll number on it to get access to it. They say it's to identify directorates / service areas so that they can see how well they are performing against corporate aspirations. Since few of us trust the director or the chief officer, that doesn't really convince. That said - I don't need a survey to say what I think!

But if you feel this way, I don't think it matters whether or not your doubts are true. If you feel this way I might suggest that something bland that identifies you, along the lines of "I don't feel I have a need to be anonymous to say how much I love working here" (I didn't say you had to tell the truth - it doesn't matter if what you say is true or not if trust isn't there).

Sconehenge · 27/11/2023 11:04

If you believe this to be an issue then you can allow your comments to be attributed to you without stating it obviously. Just accidentally slip in the name of your manager or projects you work on, basically identifying characteristics that will help them figure it out :)

Shinyandnew1 · 27/11/2023 11:05

I’d just fill it in and put your name/date somewhere on it.

AzureBlue99 · 27/11/2023 12:01

I think I would need to annotate every comment. I am seriously thinking of doing it. I may look batshit but better that than being thought to be the nasty one in the team/organisation. It has caused me no end of issues.

OP posts:
Brefugee · 27/11/2023 14:31

keep screenshots of what you write, that's what i used to do.

I once had to do an "anonymous" survey for a global company. You had to give your level, and i was the only person at that level in Europe, so it was plain who it was. So i wrote "there is nothing to explain" in all the boxes, and they knew and i knew, but they couldn't say anything

Timeforabiscuit · 27/11/2023 14:35

To be honest, if there was ongoing drama, I would make sure my staff survey was professional and honest, and then forward my response to my manager for their record.

Its occurs to me how easy it would be to dupe the system and pose as a completely different member of staff with an axe to grind.

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