# Was this action by management as irresponsible and stupid as I think it is? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 22, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046 "2014-05-22T23:29:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/21 "2014-05-23T17:44:27Z")
> [@Miss\_Gnomer](#): > > I would never fill in a work related survey and assume anonymity! Of course they can link your responses to you. I never put in writing on a work system anything I wouldn’t be willing to say out aloud. It was [this survey](http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1992-07-05/), wasn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/22 "2014-05-23T17:55:26Z")
We have an outside company create, and give our surveys (we are USA, County Gov). I’m not sure how they compile the multiple choice stuff, but we are told that the written/text answers are re-written to help with anominity. :shrug: ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/23 "2014-05-23T18:14:02Z")
Yeah, they were dumb. They’ll never get honest feedback again. Anecdote: I was working for a subsidiary of US Bank and they did a feedback survey asking questions about how US Bank management was performing. They were fairly incompetent and we let them know. Who cares, we were a different company. The VP we worked for called a meeting of all his employees. There were only about 5 of us. The first thing he says is “did any of you realize that when they said US Bank management, they actually meant me?” We actually liked this guy, and were certainly smart enough to not say anything bad if we didn’t, but because of the wording (he was not US Bank management) he got the lowest scores, with like 100% of his employees giving him bad marks! :smack: Fun times were had by all. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/24 "2014-05-23T18:23:27Z")
On our company engagement surveys, comments get paraphrased and/or aggregated before they are published. “One respondent reported that the department manager spent a lot of time locked in their office reading magazines.” That manager will know who they are, but is unlikely to be able to identify the specific employee who complained. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/25 "2014-05-23T18:56:27Z")
> [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](#): > > It is totally fucked up. It’s also a confirmation of my practice of never responding to these “anonymous” surveys my own organization sends out. Yup. **you with the face** can now join the ranks of everyone else who refuses to say anything worth saying on any “anonymous” company surveys - either we’ve been burned by it in the past, or we’ve heard too many horror stories like this. > [@gnoitall](#): > > It was [this survey](http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1992-07-05/), wasn’t it? [It’s never a good sign when your company starts to resemble Dilbert cartoons.](http://search.dilbert.com/comic/Employee%20Survey) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/26 "2014-05-23T19:11:49Z")
One thankfully-former employer sent out blank forms for an “anonymous” survey. Knowing what sort of layoff-obsessed management we had, several colleagues went straight to the lab and put the forms under a UV light - yep, the identifying codes were there. Responses were scant and bland. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/27 "2014-05-23T19:15:21Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > One thankfully-former employer sent out blank forms for an “anonymous” survey. Knowing what sort of layoff-obsessed management we had, several colleagues went straight to the lab and put the forms under a UV light - yep, the identifying codes were there. > > Responses were scant and bland. Oh, for the love of…sometimes I think I’m too paranoid, then I realize I’m not paranoid enough. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/28 "2014-05-23T19:21:59Z")
So the beatings continue? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/29 "2014-05-23T19:48:52Z")
Yes, it was incredibly irresponsible and stupid. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Oh, for the love of…sometimes I think I’m too paranoid, then I realize I’m not paranoid enough. :mad: I had to administer a “360” review process once. That’s when managers are anonymously reviewed by their bosses, colleagues, and reports. The paper surveys were marked with a lightly penciled number hidden under the staple. My boss was not unscrupulous, however, and tried to maintain the anonymity as best she could. We only used the information to keep track of who had returned it, and the paper copy was destroyed once the data was input. Many people are unscrupulous, however. If an “unmarked” paper survey is distributed to you directly, you definitely shouldn’t assume it’s unmarked. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/30 "2014-05-24T08:32:40Z")
Yep, sounds pretty clueless and irresponsible to me. On the upside, you’ve gained a new bit of insight into the thought processes of the people in your chain of command. If there’s ever a next time, your remarks should begin and end with a link to the workplace griping thread. If they want to disseminate THAT to the staff, the peals of shocked laughter could be a real morale booster. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/31 "2014-05-24T09:15:33Z")
I work for a government department (NSW Health, if it matters) and we get surveys sent out yearly. God alone knows why because, no matter what sorts of responses people send, nothing ever changes. I refuse to participate because I’m paranoid enough to think my responses are being read and possibly held against me. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/32 "2014-05-24T14:20:37Z")
Don’t all companies think the employee morale is the fault of slackers, so any negative comment means you’re a bad employee? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/33 "2014-05-26T06:44:02Z")
> [@jabiru](#): > > I work for a government department (NSW Health, if it matters) and we get surveys sent out yearly. God alone knows why because, no matter what sorts of responses people send, nothing ever changes. > > I refuse to participate because I’m paranoid enough to think my responses are being read and possibly held against me. At the USPS, “Voice of the Employee” surveys go out quarterly, with each employee getting the survey once per year. I don’t really believe they’re flagged to the individual, but I still always check the “Decline to participate” box, and return it simply because it’s too much trouble to thinnk about the rankings I give to each statement. As long as my pay keeps coming in on schedule, I’m pretty much content with conditions as they are. If something comes up that I feel requires attention, I have a very enthusiastic union steward at my disposal. If I’m distressed by something that I’m pretty confident the union won’t be able to change, I’ve got the workplace griping thread available where I can piss and moan about it. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/34 "2014-05-26T06:55:48Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > … If I’m distressed by something that I’m pretty confident the union won’t be able to change, I’ve got the workplace griping thread available where I can piss and moan about it. I need to avail myself of that thread more often. I know I’ve posted there once (that tick means something, right?) but I suspect my moans would be pretty much the same all the time. Our surveys can be printed out and returned by internal mail but, as I said, nothing changes and most of the changes I’d like to see implemented are from management only one level above me, a mere pleb, and she’s a very organised person, highly organised in fact, but is rubbish at managing people and completely uninterested in addressing staff concerns, so I no longer bother. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/35 "2014-05-26T15:53:30Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Because the question was asked and I had no idea she would see it! :rolleyes: naiveté |ˌnīˌēv(ə)ˈtā, nīˈēv(ə)ˌtā| (also naïveté, Brit.naivety) noun lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment: the administration’s naiveté and inexperience in foreign policy. • innocence or unsophistication: they took advantage of his naiveté and deep pockets. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/36 "2014-05-26T16:28:05Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Oh, for the love of…sometimes I think I’m too paranoid, then I realize I’m not paranoid enough. :mad: Is it like you’re paranoid that you’re not paranoid enough? ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/37 "2014-05-26T22:56:05Z")
“Good morning class. A certain…agitator…for privacy’s sake let’s call her…Lisa S. No, that’s too obvious…uuuh, let’s say L. Simpson – has raised questions about certain school policies. So, in the interest in creating an open dialogue, sit silently and watch this film.” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/38 "2014-05-27T01:04:08Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Is it like you’re paranoid that you’re not paranoid enough? Exactly. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/39 "2014-05-27T01:30:34Z")
4life: So, he was more offended by his incompetence being pointed out to him, than the incompetence itself? ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046/40 "2014-05-27T01:31:38Z")
Our “engagement” survey didn’t turn out as glowing as they’d hoped a couple of years ago, so we were all dragged into group meetings and the questions were read to us as if we were illiterate. We were told that the results were disappointing, so we must not have understood the questions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-action-by-management-as-irresponsible-and-stupid-as-i-think-it-is/689046.md?page=3)