While seven in 10 (70 per cent) Canadian employees say their employer does a good job of fostering a safe and trusting environment that encourages honest communication, they may still feel uncomfortable talking about issues that affect their work, according to a new survey by the Harris Poll on behalf of Express Services Inc.

The survey, which polled more than 500 employees and more than 500 employers, found a majority of workers said they find it easy to receive constructive feedback from managers (76 per cent), to set professional boundaries so work isn’t impacted by personal issues (73 per cent) and be upfront about issues they have with their company (63 per cent).

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However, only 40 per cent of employees said they feel comfortable discussing personal issues that are affecting their work with their managers, a percentage that increases among generation Zers (46 per cent) and decreases among those from generation X (37 per cent).

More than eight in 10 (84 per cent) employers said their company has built a safe and trusting environment that promotes honest communication and three-quarters (76 per cent) said their organization has the right systems and tools in place to facilitate constructive criticism.

Nearly all (96 per cent) hiring managers believe employees can speak honestly with anyone at the company regarding their concerns or issues, including personal issues (76 per cent). Managers/supervisors (66 per cent) and peers/colleagues (57 per cent) were the most commonly cited points of contact for these discussions.

“Creating a culture of honesty is not just about encouraging transparency among employees — it’s about equipping business leaders with the right tools and training to have open, honest conversations,” said Bill Stoller, chief executive officer of Express Employment International, in a press release. “This survey shows each generation brings a unique communication style to the workplace and it’s important for management to adapt their approach and provide tailored training to ensure effective communication across all age groups.”

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