A US-based DecisionWise study exploring the behaviours of 100,000 employees found that 34% of employees don’t speak up in the workplace, fearing retribution.

Employees tend to be wary when talking to people who are in positions of authority over them. This might have a variety of causes. They might feel that their livelihood or capacity for promotion may be at risk, or they may think that they’ll miss out on a bonus.  There may be negative attention from supervisors, or they may they have seen other suggestions ignored in the past and see no reason to put themselves at risk when there is unlikely to be a positive impact.

There are particular situations in which employees should speak up:  

• In the health and safety area. Employees tend to know their role better than management, and there may be issues which managers are unaware of. If employees feel confident in speaking up, actions can be taken to ensure greater safety in the workplace. 
• If employees feel confident in speaking up, they are more likely to report their injuries early, and as a result they are more likely to have a fast and successful return to work. 
• An injured employee needs to be encouraged to speak up when returning to work if the tasks they are allocated are causing problems. 

Again, if they speak up, they are less likely to be reinjured or suffer from further injuries, and the claim cost is reduced.

Some suggestions for employees when approaching management about issues in the workplace:

• Gauge the mood of your manager or supervisor before making an approach 
• Unless urgent, make the approach at a time when the manager or supervisor will have time to discuss the matter
• Set up a time to meet, preferably away from distractions
• Managers have to deal with multiple problems on a regular basis. They are more likely to be engaged if you present the issues, as well as options for dealing with the issue. A solution oriented discussion can be motivating for a manager.  
• It may help to obtain feedback from other team members on your suggestion before approaching management
• Think about the best method of communication. This might be in writing, over coffee or a casual chat in the workplace for example. 
• Help management to understand the appeal of your proposal.

By overcoming the fear and speaking up, employees often find that there are unexpected positive benefits:

• Employees who speak up tend to be respected and have their opinion consulted
• Unexpected opportunities may present themselves
• There may be career acceleration
• Open expression means that their views are less likely to be misunderstood or misrepresented
• Employees are less likely to suffer from injuries in the workplace or delayed return to work