Voice matters: why HR should listen to employee voice?
| Published date | 11 November 2019 |
| Pages | 268-271 |
| Date | 11 November 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/SHR-04-2019-0026 |
| Author | Swati Singh,Sita Vanka |
| Subject Matter | Hr & organizational behaviour,Employee behaviour |
Voice matters: why HR should listen to
employee voice?
Swati Singh and Sita Vanka
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to highlightthe importance of the employee voice in the present
era. This paperdiscusses the drawbacks of not attending to employeevoice, benefits of listening to it and
strategies,as well as the methods of capturing the voiceof employees.
Design/methodology/approach –The paper uses illustration to explain how Cisco used employee
voice to revampits HR.
Findings –The research on this area indicates that although listening to employee voice is beneficial,
most organizations ignore it. The findings suggest that the voice of employee cannot be ignored in the
technology-led era, as employees have many platforms to raise their concerns. Additionally, ignoring
their voice can be perilous.Attending to employee voice brings many advantages,and thus it should be
prioritized, promotedand practiced. The paper carries implications for HR managers,business leaders
and researchersin this field.
Originality/value –This paper uniquelydiscusses the significance of employeevoice in the present era.
It also presentsthe strategies and methods to capture employeevoice. Furthermore, it demonstratesthe
benefitsof attending to employee voice with the help of an illustration.
Keywords Employee voice, CISCO HR breakathon, Strategies for employee voice,
Employee voice applications
Paper type Viewpoint
Voice matters: Why HR should listen to employee voice?
In November 2018, thousands of Google employees across the globe walked out of their
offices as a part of planned protest (# Google Walkout) against the company’s policies on
several issues. This protest was unique, as for the first time, the world witnessed the highly
skilled and well-paid employees of one of the world’s best organizations on the streets
(Kirkpatrick, 2019). The knowledge workers came on street to be heard and get noticed.
The protesters released a list of their demands on Instagram, analysis of which shows that
they demanded more transparency, equality and say in decision-making. Google sorted out
this crisis eventually. However, this incident rang an alarm bell for HR managers, business
leaders and organizations in the knowledge economy. The Google Walkout signalled that
employee voice cannot be shunned in the present era. Today, employees adopt different
means to get heard. They have various platforms to voice their concerns. The social media
and technological advances have provided it a greater momentum. Thus, attending to
employee’s voice becomes imperative.
Employee voice is the means through which employees convey their thoughts, ideas and
views to the employer. The employee voice allows employees to actively participate in
raising their concerns over different issues related to their work and well-being. Employee
voice endows mutual benefits. The views, thoughts and ideas shared by employees,
triggers innovation, creativity and better policies at workplace. For employees, it enhances
performance, satisfactionand engagement. Although employee voice seems to be mutually
Swati Singh and Sita Vanka
are based at the School of
Management Studies,
University of Hyderabad,
Hyderabad, India.
PAGE 268 jSTRATEGIC HR REVIEW jVOL. 18 NO. 6 2019, pp. 268-271, ©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 1475-4398 DOI 10.1108/SHR-04-2019-0026
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