Employers often ask for feedback from their employees in order to improve the workplace and identify areas that need attention. But what if employees don't feel comfortable being honest when their name is attached to the feedback? In cases like these, anonymous employee feedback can be a helpful tool. Ready to get started gathering your own anonymous feedback? Click here.
Here's everything you need to know about anonymous employee feedback, including how to make it truly anonymous.
So, what is Anonymous Employee Feedback?
Anonymous employee feedback is exactly what it sounds like: feedback from employees that cannot be traced back to them individually. This type of feedback can be incredibly helpful for employers who want to get an accurate picture of their workplace without fear of retribution or retribution.
There are a few different ways to collect anonymous employee feedback. One common method is to use an online survey tool like SurveyMonkey or Google Forms. These tools allow you to send out a link to the survey that can be completed anonymously. Alternatively, you could set up a box in the break room where employees can drop their completed surveys. But, while all of these methods do technically work, they are full of limitations and can be difficult for your employees to use and for you to gather information from. That’s why we created VoiceSifter, an anonymous text-based feedback tool. Click here to learn more.
Anonymous Employee Feedback vs. Blind Feedback
It's important to note that anonymous employee feedback is not the same as blind feedback. Blind feedback is when an employer asks for input from employees but doesn't give any context about why they're asking or what they're hoping to learn. Anonymity implies that there's a specific reason why employees' identities should remain hidden, whereas blindness implies that employers are just looking for general input with no specific purpose in mind.
How to Make Employee Feedback Truly Anonymous
If you're considering using anonymous employee feedback but you're worried about maintaining anonymity, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that your employees' identities will remain hidden.
The first step is to choose an anonymizing method that will work best for your organization and your employees. Once you've decided on a method, make sure all employees are aware of how they can submit their feedback anonymously.
The second step is to create a process for handling the collected data. This process should ensure that no personally identifiable information (PII) is ever attached to any individual piece of feedback. Once again, online survey tools can be helpful here because they often have built-in features for ensuring anonymity.
The third and final step is perhaps the most important: ensuring that employees trust that their anonymity will be protected. If employees don't believe their identities will remain confidential, they're unlikely to provide honest feedback. To gain and maintain trust, make sure you follow through on your promises of anonymity; never try to identify an individual based on their feedback unless they've given explicit permission for you to do so.
