Tell the boss ‘You’re nuts,’ anonymously
Filed under: Communication, Employee computer use, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
Few companies are immune to employing the occasional “toxic manager.” Would any employees at your company like the chance to yell at their boss — without suffering the consequences?
Well, now they can.
A new viral marketing site set up by the folks at online recruiter “Career Builder” allows workers to call their boss on bad behavior, personal habits or any other annoying actions — anonymously.
And it’s not just managers that employees can reprimand. “Tips” can be sent to anyone — co-workers, competitors, spouses, children, mere acquaintances.
Senders get to choose a character and a voice (three male choices, three female) to read aloud their message, that’s delivered via a Web link that’s accompanied by the caveat: “Click below for something a friend, coworker or concerned citizen couldn’t say to your face.”
There’s a similar service at Nicecritic.com, but that one sends only the text of the message to the recipient.
Of course, really angry workers can just sign up for a free e-mail address and send the same message without risk of detection, but then the folks who run these viral sites wouldn’t be able to collect both the sender and recipient’s e-mail addresses — which is what they’re getting out of the deal.
Career Builder’s “service” also comes with this disclaimer: “Career Builder does not control content from the sender included within this Anonymous Tip. By accessing this Anonymous Tip email, you acknowledge that: (i) you may be exposed to content provided by the sender that is abusive, offensive or otherwise objectionable; and (ii) Career Builder will not be liable in any way for such content, including but not limited to any, errors or omissions in such content or email addresses included therein or any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the review and/or use of such content.”
They wish. Once something truly offensive, inflammatory or threatening gets sent by an anonymous tipster and it’s delivered by Career Builder, some experts say there’ll be no end to the litigation that comes calling.
That’s one way for the boss to find out just who sent the message saying, “Stop being such a jerk.”
Comments
One Comment on Tell the boss ‘You’re nuts,’ anonymously
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Lynn on
Wed, 11th Feb 2009 4:42 pm
You ran this article in one of your other HR weeklies ( I think HR Blunders). The comments from HR professionals ran very, very long. They were not positive. A few people stated they were no longer going to recruit through Career Builders. The ad was supposed to run during the Superbowl. I noticed that it did not. I think they got the message.
