Employee Takes to Social Media After Internal Complaint Not Addressed Satisfactorily
Eighty-four percent of employees who report a compliance concern outside their company first reported the concern internally. It was only after the employer failed to address the concern satisfactorily that the employee reported the concern to a third-party outside the company.
In today’s world of social media, dissatisfied employees no longer need an attorney or journalist to tell their story. With the few strokes of a keyboard they can broadcast their complaints around the world.
The use of social media by employees to complain about work related issues is an example of this new world.
Lessons for Employers
It is always a good reminder to employers of the importance of evaluating their current processes and procedures for responding to internal employee complaints. Research and history teach employers that employees who believe their internal concerns were taken seriously and that the process used to investigate their concerns was procedurally fair are statistically more likely to accept the employer’s response – even if the employee disagreed with the response.
Smart, responsible employers recognize this and work hard to give their employees a clear way to report workplace concerns. They implement investigation protocols that ensure allegations of workplace misconduct are investigated promptly, thoroughly and impartially. They understand that a strong internal investigation protocol is a critical step in encouraging employees to keep concerns internal rather than allowing employees to feel their only alternative is to take to social media or to contact adversarial legal counsel, union organizers, or a governmental agency.
For more information, you can contact Kelli Haas & Associates, PLLC for help with your business and human resource needs. https://www.khalawgroup.com or kelli@khalawgroup.com or (615) 567-7304.
