Voices of Change from the Inside Out: Examining Employee Activism and Organizational Disruption from a Risk Management Perspective

Silvia Ravazzani, Alessandra Mazzei, Sara Cone, Yan Jin, Bryan Reber, and Anna Rachwalski (undergraduate student). “Voices of Change from the Inside Out: Examining Employee Activism and Organizational Disruption from a Risk Management Perspective.” The 7th International Crisis Communication Conference, October 5-7, 2023, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Abstract: This study revolves around employee activism, focusing on employee voice expressed externally as an emerging pressure on contemporary organizations and leaders. An increasing number of employees speak out for or against their employers on relevant social issues, becoming insider activists. Built on literature surrounding employee communication behaviors, employee voice, employee and social activism, and risk communication and management, this study aims to shed further light on the concept and practice of employee activism. We aim to investigate how the main types of employee voice expressions (i.e., supportive/positive and dissensual/negative) and their forms and outlets (e.g., rallies, petitions, news media interviews, social media posts and debates) might impact organizational activism, such as sustainability actions and diversity and inclusion efforts towards employees. Explorative qualitative interviews will be carried out with at least 20 internal communication managers from multinational corporations with offices in Italy and the US. For social issue related expressions, additional quantitative content analysis of employee public “ratings” (e.g., on Glassdoor) will be further examined. This study’s contribution lies in offering insights into organizations’ risk management and prevention work aimed at detecting potentially damaging voice expressions while also sustaining employees in voicing their rights and making an impact on society’s wellbeing. Organizations are called to assess risks of and implement preparatory measures for dysfunctional forms of employee activism while supporting organic activism that drives positive changes. By understanding employee motives and factors that trigger externally directed employee activism, organizations might develop more effective and ethical strategies to address this emerging phenomenon.