American aircraft manufacturer Boeing has faced significant scrutiny over its safety standards in recent years, after accidents – some of them catastrophic – involving its planes. But even after fatal accidents and a door panel on one of its planes exploding mid-flight, its employees are reluctant to speak publicly about safety issues, according to a February report by the Federal Aviation Administration. How can managers and leaders best encourage employees to speak up when they notice a problem? What can they do to ensure that those who raise issues are praised, not criticized? Is it really worth it for employees to risk defection? Isabel Berwick talks to Michael Skapinker, contributing editor and executive coach at the Financial Times, as well as Margaret Heffernan, former CEO of various companies and author of books including Willful Blindness, about why people are reluctant to raise concerns, even when they know they should that.
do you want more? Free links:
The risks of speaking out at work often prevent employees from voicing their concerns
The US aviation regulator launches an official investigation into the mid-air explosion of a Boeing plane
Lessons learned from the CBI scandal
Japan needs stronger protections for whistleblowers
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Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankel Duvall, mixed by Simone Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Zaragosa. Cheryl Bromley is Head of Audio at FT.
Read the transcript of this episode on FT.com
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