Employer pressuring me to take 'confidential' satisfaction survey

[KookyNotOoky]

I work for a fairly typical penny-pinching, lower-to-mid tier UK private sector firm, who are having their annual 'Employee Satisfaction Survey' - I didn't take the last couple years' surveys, however I did read the follow-up report from HR, and note that none of the issues raised by staff were dealt with. Therefore it would seem to be just a PR exercise to up the firm's ESG score or whatnot.

Moreover they insist that the survey is confidential, however I simply don't believe them. They have sent me an personalised email with unique reference numbered link; I simply don't trust that the numbered link will be detached from my name; it will be easy to guess who wrote what anyway from writing style/late completion.

Much as I would love to vent about the many, many issues with the company, I am far more interested in keeping my job than in providing recommendations/suggestions that will be at best ignored, at worst label me disatisfied boat-rocker who will jump ship the moment a better offer comes along. I'm tempted just to fill it in with generic non-answers just to get them off my back - what have others done in this situation?

My organisation does one which is managed externally and any comments stripped of indentifying data.

You could ask if this the case. Alternatively, like me, stripped data or not, don't bother ( I'm a cynical old bat!).

Just tell them you have done it.
If it's confidential then they can't say they know you haven't

My family member did a confidential survey they called her in the office to ask why she thought their pay was too low for her position 🤔 she pointed out number one that defeats the object of a confidential survey number two she needs to work two jobs just to survive the only thing they were concerned with was did she have permission from her manager for her second job (she did) that was it

Just pointless

My company does this confidential my arse. First few questions, section of the company, department, where are you based, Male/Female, age bracket.

Wouldn't take a genuis to work out who's who.

My firm also do this
I've been told they have basic data such as gender and age and approx role so they can easily work it out apparantly

Ours are quite obvious to work out who completes them. Male or female, front of house dept, finance dept etc. Just tel, them you've done it like another poster said.

I’d fuck with the data. Just pick a different department, sex, age, job level. If they question you on it you can have a discussion about ‘confidentiality’.

Ha, I knew someone who was sacked for what they put in the confidential survey. Nothing derogatory but SLT felt they weren't onside enough. So my anwser would be either don't fill it in at all, or make it as anodyne as possible.