CIPD viewpoint
Explore the CIPD's collected perspective on the key issues impacting work, including recommendations, supporting evidence and links to resources for policymakers and employers
Explore the CIPD’s point of view on employee voice, including actions for Government and recommendations for employers
Well-being, commitment and innovation are negatively impacted when employees feel they are without ‘voice’ in an organisation. We believe all employers should have policies and practices in place which enable employees to effectively voice themselves on matters important to them.
Employee voice is key to ensuring that ideas and knowledge from across the workforce can be harnessed to drive innovation in product design, service delivery and improvements to working practices.
However, evidence suggests that, in recent years, there’s been a fall in the proportion of organisations with collective arrangements for employee representation and voice in the workplace. This is a concern. Unless employees are confident enough to speak out at work, issues like sexual harassment, discrimination, health and safety failings and unethical behaviour can be hidden – or papered over.
The CIPD believes all organisations should have effective policies and practices that allow employees to easily voice their opinions and raise concerns.
There are three main purposes for employee voice:Employers should provide both individual and collective ways to ensure that employees feel they have a voice, and that their views are listened to and respected.
An essential aspect of employee voice is the role of line managers in listening and consulting with the people they manage. It’s also critically important to support collective voice through arrangements like employee representatives in staff councils; forums; or trade unions.
Feeling unable to share matters important to them can have a negative impact on people’s well-being, undermining their commitment to the organisation and blocking innovation. Leadership style, and the creation of an environment where people feel safe to speak up, influences people’s ability to express their voice.
Explore the CIPD's collected perspective on the key issues impacting work, including recommendations, supporting evidence and links to resources for policymakers and employers
Learn how to foster an open and transparent dialogue between employers and employees
Engaging with ministers, other policy makers and our membership to inform our views to influence government