Site lets employees tell off their bosses anonymously
July 21, 2009 by StaffPosted in: Uncategorized
As an HR pro, you’ve probably had your share of disgruntled employees asking you to send certain messages to their bosses, such as, “You’re an idiot.” Watch out! Now a Web site makes it even easier for them to do that.
The Anonymous Tip Giver does just that.
The new Web page from CareerBuilder.com allows people to send anonymous messages to their bosses and co-workers who drive them crazy.
Employees can choose one of four characters to deliver your message, such as a man playing the piano with his feet, a human alligator or a woman who looks like a hovering demon from the underworld.
After typing their message, users get to choose a voice, male or female, American or British accent.
Final step: Fill in the recipient’s e-mail address and hit “send.”
CareerBuilder will be airing an ad during the Super Bowl to promote the Web page.
Is this a good idea or not? Let us know what you think in the Comments Box below.
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:18 pm
I think it would be a good idea for careerbuilder.com to allow current employees to post comments about their current work environment. This would give job seekers an idea about the companies they are potentially applying for. Kind of like consumer ratings of items on store websites.
I think it’s definitely a creative idea. I think as a manager I would sometimes like to know how my employees really feel about me.
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I think this idea could backfire on Careerbuilder. This may be an anonymous way to vent frustrations with a co-worker, but it could be construed as workplace harrassment if the author goes to far. It could also be viewed as misuse of company email since the email used would most likely be the coworker’s work email account. If harrassment becomes an issue, then there could also be criminal legal ramifications. If I were Careerbuilder, I would seriously reconsider this.
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:33 am
This could be a way for employees to vent their frustrations. However, this could be harmful and hurtful to all parties involved. What prevents someone from using racial comments or slanderous remarks?
No one deserves to be harrassed and frankly I’d prefer my coworkers come to me directly with their frustrations and concerns. This way we could have open and respectful dialogue and iron out our differences.
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:29 am
I agree with Ria. I think it is a BAD idea. There are just too many people out there that will take it way too far and harrassment can become a real problem. It is just best that the disgruntled employee vent about his/her boss to someone else outside of the situation. Let’s not fuel the fire more than it already is.
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
If you can’t say it to their face why say it at all. People need to be held accountable for their actions and this is just another way that people can be mean with out personal consciences. I mean just imagine getting something like this from someone when you did not even know you did anything wrong in the first place. Then you assume you know who sent it and treat them differently but they might not have been the one that actually did.
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 am
I went to the website and as HR professional I think this is a terrible idea. There is nothing constructive about the way this message is delivered. It is just another way for people to waste time at work and hurt others feelings. If this continues there will undoubtedly be harassment issues.
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Smells like disaster in the air.
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I agree with Jenny. It would be great to be able to see comments regarding other companies. Good place to work vs bad place to work; taking into account these are opinions. Bottom line, it’s creative.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I looked at the site — this is about the dumbest idea Career Builders has ever had. Potential for harm outweighs all other considerations.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
This is a bad idea. What were they thinking? Oh, I’m sorry they wern’t thinking when is idea cam to light. We all know that someone will push this to the limit. If you can’t say what you feel to thier face then keep your mouth shut and move on.
January 12th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
On the one hand, I agree that comments from current employees about a workplace is a good idea, as long as the comments are not from disgruntled employees who just don’t like the way things are handled. However, from an HR standpoint, this could truly be a nightmare. Not only does this create a hostile workplace because, as someone mentioned above, it is most likely the work e-mail it would be sent to, but could also lead to criminal charges being filed if the harassment goes beyond a certain point…especially since we all know that nothing sent on-line is really ever anonymous:)