Survey: Majority of Employees Have Had Ideas Stolen at Work

TORONTO , Nov. 10 /CNW/ - According to a recent survey, there's a common type of workplace theft - and it has nothing to do with missing office supplies. Nearly six in 10 (58 per cent) employees interviewed said that a coworker has taken credit for their idea. Those who steal the limelight from their more deserving colleagues may get away with it, too: forty-one per cent of those who have had their ideas nabbed by coworkers revealed they did nothing in response.

The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals, and conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion.

Workers were asked, "Has a coworker ever taken credit for your idea?" Their responses:

    
           Yes ........................................... 58%
           No  ........................................... 42%
                                                          ----
                                                          100%
    

Workers also were asked, "What did you do in response?" Their responses*:

    
           Speak up to let others know it was your idea .. 27%
           Tell your manager ............................. 15%
           Confront the person who stole your idea ....... 19%
           Nothing ....................................... 41%
           Don't know/no answer ..........................  5%

    *Multiple responses allowed
    

"Today's workplace is more competitive than ever and, unfortunately, there are people who will go to great lengths to make themselves look good or get promoted, including taking credit for someone else's ideas," said Robert Hosking , executive director of OfficeTeam. "Being proactive in sharing your vision with your manager and colleagues early on can help ensure others know the concept originated with you."

Hosking added that although getting credit is important, giving it is just as beneficial. "Employees and supervisors should acknowledge those who help to move an idea forward - most business successes are the result of collaboration, not the efforts of a single individual."

OfficeTeam offers the following tips for getting the credit you deserve:

    
    -   Report up. Use status updates to remind your manager of your ideas
        and the progress being made to implement them.
    -   Look for patterns. If a minor contribution is occasionally
        overlooked, you may decide to let it go. However, if other people
        routinely get credit for your ideas, it's a sign that you need to be
        more assertive.
    -   Don't act in haste. When someone receives credit for your idea, try
        to get to the bottom of the situation. It could be a
        misunderstanding. Be sure to give your colleague the opportunity to
        present his or her side of the story to you.
    -   Set the record straight. If you are credited with a coworker's idea,
        be sure to swiftly correct the situation. Your colleague will
        appreciate it.


    About OfficeTeam
    ----------------
    

OfficeTeam provides businesses with the temporary administrative professionals they need to maximize productivity, achieve cost efficiency and support existing staff. The company has more than 325 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com.

    
    About the Survey
    ----------------
    

From November 3 - 4, 2009, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted a survey among 367 Canadian adults who are employed in an office environment and are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a representative sample.

For further information: Kristie Perrotte, [phone], [email protected]