A Penny for Your Thoughts: Exploring Experiences of Engagement, Voice, and Silence

Abstract

This qualitative content analysis study explores the experiences of public sector employees’ decisions to share and not share their ideas with leadership, and how those decisions relate to their engagement states. We found that the relationship with supervisors can impact both employee voice and silence. Further, employee voice is impacted by the power of ideas and how the idea is crafter. And, employee silence was impacted by previous voice experiences and job insecurity. Last, we position that the employee voice/silence decisions are outcomes of the employee engagement state, compared to being a driver.