February 11, 2025
Guest Q&A – Co Founder of speak up platform InChorus
Rosie Turner joins us to discuss what gets in the way of speaking up, and the problems this causes.
Speaking up at work when something is wrong
At some point, every workplace will have an issue that needs attention. When you find out about them too late, the risks grow exponentially.
Proactively creating a culture where people feel they can speak up about their concerns is a shield against the ever-growing reputational, financial and regulatory risks in a workplace.
Creating speak-up cultures
Why speaking up is harder than you think
Most companies say they have a culture where people can speak up; but in reality, it’s a very difficult thing for someone to do. And when they do, are they listened to?
When asked "what holds people back from speaking up", these were the real insights shared from one of our training sessions:
FCA data shows that non-financial misconduct has increased every year since 2021, and there is growing regulatory and legal pressure to tackle it.
A study by the Film and TV Charity found that 82% of respondents had experiences or witnessed bullying or harassment in the workplace.
Protect's Silence in the City report found that found that 33% of whistleblowers' concerns were ignored by their employers.
It's more important than ever to make sure your people can speak up.
Ask yourself:
Do you have a robust process for handling concerns? Are people aware of the routes?
How comfortable are your people raising concerns with their managers? Are managers creating psychological safety?
How are managers equipped to deal with them? What if it was something serious, such as sexual harassment?
Would concerns be escalated appropriately? Are people aware of the approaches to confidentiality and anonymity?
Do people understand and trust the process as to what would happen next?
How can byrne·dean help you ensure your people speak up about concerns?
We work with organisations to improve their culture around speaking up, by reframing how their people think about it.
We show them how speaking up up financnial and non-financial misconduct is something that protects their organisation from risks, and reflects a psychologically safe working environment. Overcoming the stigma of being labelled a "troublemaker" is essential.
The FCA, the financial services regulator, acknowledges that a high number of incidents does not necessarily suggest a worse environment, and a low number of incidents does not suggest a positive environment. The opposite may even be true, based on having a healthy speak up culture or not.
For a flavour of our work:
Live byrne·dean training on the BBC
A real byrne·dean session on speaking up at work and whistleblowing was featured on BBC’s People Fixing the World, facilitated by our own Helen Dallimore. We feature from 10:45.
Listen here
Webinar with the UK’s leading whistleblowing charity
Two byrne·dean experts hold a webinar with Protect on reframing whistleblowing in corporate organisations.
Watch now
Case study: Creating speak up cultures in financial services
Read how we use immersive learning to reframe speaking up.
Read more
We are expert advisors and trainers for creating speak-up cultures at work
Our exceptional team includes experienced former employment lawyers, HR and L&D professionals, EDI experts, psychology experts, organisational development experts and researchers with deep coal-face experience of employment problems.
When you work with us, you’ll typically be working with a subject matter expert who’s worked as a senior employment lawyer too.
In-person training
Digital resources
Enabling speak up
Our specialist advisory team for creating speak up cultures
The latest thinking from our team
January 17, 2025
Sexual Harassment Roundup: Gregg Wallace, a Recent Tribunal, and Tackling the ‘Everyone Knows’ Predators in the Workplace
Sexual harassment has been at the forefront of our work, and we’ve applied our insights to some of the most talked-about stories.
December 11, 2024
Conflict at work: to escalate or de-escalate?
Our Head of Resolution Zoe Wigan shows where de-escalation can be the best solution.
Let’s get connected.
Our highly experienced team of workplace behaviour and wellbeing experts are here to help. Drop us a line for world class guidance and advice.
We can help you make positive, long-lasting changes to your workplace culture, whatever your requirements.
Training
World class sessions in mental health & wellbeing, equity, diversity & inclusion, workplace behaviour, legal & risk, leadership and skills - delivered in person, virtually or via digital learning modules, to individuals and groups of any size.
Find out more
Resolution
Helping to resolve workplace behaviour concerns with investigations, mediations and independent partnering.
Find out more
Strategy
Recommending the best HR and people strategies – from inclusion and wellbeing to instilling cultural change – expertly and with objectivity.
Find out more
