Half of Canadian companies warn that employees who share too much personal information on the job can harm their own professional reputation and slow workplace productivity, according to a new poll by Express Employment Professionals and The Harris Poll released Wednesday.
The survey of 504 Canadian hiring managers found that while honesty is widely considered crucial — 99 per cent said it is important for managers to be honest — certain subjects can cross the line. Employers reported that oversharing personal details, criticizing colleagues or the company, and gossiping can all have negative consequences.
A majority of respondents said they have cultivated a safe and trusting environment that encourages honesty, with 84 per cent saying they have systems in place to handle constructive criticism and 94 per cent agreeing that employees can speak openly with someone at the company about their concerns, managers said.
However, half of companies said employees can be “too honest,” citing examples such as talking about marital issues involving a spouse who also works at the firm, graphic medical details and disparaging remarks about ownership. Nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) said being too honest can damage an employee’s reputation, while more than half (59 per cent) linked it to lower productivity.
Job seekers surveyed expressed similar views. More than half (51 per cent) said employees can be too honest at work, and 63 per cent said excessive honesty can ruin a person’s reputation. Just 40 per cent said they would feel comfortable discussing personal issues impacting their work with a manager.
Bill Stoller, chief executive officer of Express Employment International, said knowing when to hold back is key.
“While honesty is crucial, the wisdom to communicate thoughtfully is equally important,” he said. “It’s important to remember that some personal situations are best discussed with confidantes outside of work,” he said.
The surveys were conducted online between May 16 and June 3, 2024, for hiring managers, and between May 28 and June 10, 2024, for job seekers. Both surveys were done in Canada by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals.
