I’m pretty sure our Employee Survey isn't actually anonymous because my manager called me out for negative feedback the week after I took it. I was honest about the staffing issues, and suddenly I’m being monitored for my attitude. It’s a trap, isn't it? From now on, every survey is just going to get highly satisfied so I can keep my job. Has anyone else been burned by a supposedly safe feedback loop?

My old employer would 'anonymously' throw those at us too.
Our one supervisor got 6 months of once a week propaganda training because our *tiny* department got overly honest when we hit the, 'I feel senior management is doing a great job' part. No, the 5 million dollar man (CEO) wasn't the best thing ever, the merger idea is dumb and other disloyal thoughts. Subtle questions like 'how long have you worked here' and the *unique survey link* that is not to be shared are subtle hints.

My rule of thumb is anything that anything electronic, isn't anonymous. For example, at a prior role, HR stated repeatedly that our yearly surveys were anonymous yet they would send emails directly to individuals admonishing them for not filling them out. Plus many areas, such as mine only had a few people, so they could pretty much guess who said what. And yes, when comments were made, they would make it right back to whoever said them. The only survey I ever had even close to anonymous was years back, and was an old fashioned pen and paper submission y/n form with a small comment area. Even then people would skip the comment area or have a friend fill out because nobody wanted their handwriting noticed. Skip them as much as you can.

Employee surveys are a joke. Most of us realize they are not anonymous, and even when a whole group answers honestly, the whole group is gaslit that the problem doesn’t exist, we just need mindfulness training and maybe pizza.

They are NEVER anonymous. You have a number and if you say anything they don’t like they figure out who you are

That's why they ask for your employee number. None of it is anonymous. And yes it's retaliation but it's done all of the time in every company and they know how to hide it.

They are not anonymous

They know when you don’t participate so one has to believe they are witch hunts. Transparency is my middle name. Whether I’m speaking to management, emailing or answering questions.My reputation is stellar so is my confidence. Happy to move on if ever they see me as a potential problem.

Same with my medical employer, after my Feedback Survey

I was totally honest, and if they do see it, maybe it will help them improve their management skills.

You are 100% correct. As an employee, we would get yearly employee surveys, which we were assured were confidential. Later on I became an Operations Manager for the same company. As usual, the employees received their survey. Much to my surprise, about a month or so later, I received the results of that survey, and every good and bad thing that was said about me or they didn't like. Most of the comments were highly exaggerated or just outright lies. As a manager, there were two ways I could go. I could do the "revenge" tour, and make those employees who left negative (and derogatory) comments about me miserable, or I could look inward and see what I could improve on as a manager. I chose to try and improve. Managers will always get mixed reviews. I get that. That's largely because employees as individuals will comment on their individual thoughts and ideas, and what keeps employees happy and/or what makes them miserable. A managers job is a delicate balance to deliver positive results for both the employee and the company. It's a difficult balancing act. But retaliation in any form is unacceptable.

Oh yes! "Anonymous", does not exist in nursing, especially in corporate nursing such as remote case management. I felt safe (like an idiot) in filing a complaint to HR against my former manager who was bullying, toxic and making my workplace so awful that I felt like I was drowning becausethe harder Iworked, the more she piled on and demanded Ido. I really thought anonymous would protect my identity and make them aware of what their person was doing. It was only about a week before my situation went from bad to worse. Next thing I knew, I was put on a performance plan and given 6 weeks to "improve my metrics", even though l was surpassing the metrics and taking on so much more than was even expected. Four days later, I was fired. Four days. Funny how all this happened after I filed that "anonymous" report. Never trust "anonymous" that doesn't exist. I'm sorry that happened to you and it's a hard lesson to learn but, now you know.

At my healthcare org they are 100% anonymous. The thing is most people fill out the comments section in the same way they write emails, so it’s not hard to figure out who wrote a specific comment. Thats why when I fill mine out I write in Shakespearean style "That no soul may discern mine identity, when I scribe these sour grievances."

The only time I tell a company how I really feel is during an exit interview!!!!

They'd have us do "anonymous" surveys but we each have a special code that is specific to us. How is it going to be anonymous if we were each given a specific code to use? I always felt like it was a trap so I was never honest

Employee surveys are not anonymous. Some places have employees follow a link from their email...not anonymous. Every "Anonymous survey" I've seen asks people to fill out demographics data. What unit, how long have you worked for the company, your role/position, etc. It is super easy for them to find out who is giving the feedback. I just mark all top scores and no comments. If I feel the strong need to make a comment, I do it with the fact that they will know that it was submitted by me. I'll even put my name on it to "make it easier" for them.

I feel companies send these because they are scared to hear the truth and don't really care to fix the problems. They don't want other employees to know of other employees challenges. I prefer to discuss issues. I consider anonymous surveys as junk mail.

Hi,

While the survey may have been anonymous, if you spoke with your colleagues about how you completed it they probably would have guessed that you it was you. Never underestimate the power of "friends at work" because things slip. It would never be honesty to yourself if you put highly satisfied but just make sure you keep your comments after you complete the survey to yourself. The survey does not put it your name, but your identity through several factors can be traced back to you using factors such as group/title and length of service. Be honest but cautious . . .

Of course it’s not anonymous! I had the same thing. I put my supervisor was a miccromanan and it was bad for morale. She came to me a few weeks after the sur and said right to my face that she wasn’t a micromanager.
I’ve never thought these were anonymous, there is no legal jargon on the survey, all it says, by a third party, that it’s ano to them!

I was honest on my Employee Survey, I filled out a suggestion box, and my responses were quoted verbatim back to me. My response: Your surveys are not so anonymous. These managers were the micro-manager type. I never filled out another "anonymous" survey.

You are correct. Employee Surveys are NOT anonymous. They have NEVER been.
The information you give and your name are shared across supervisors and administration. Your responses are tied to the survey number, even when your name is not on the survey.