Employees ‘Don’t Always Share Discoveries with Their Bosses’
The Challenges of Sharing Ideas in the Professional World
In the workplace, many innovative concepts, solutions, and inventions come from employees – but workers are not always inclined to share their bright ideas with their bosses. This is a frequent phenomenon, with significant consequences for the companies involved.
Withholding Information: A Common Occurrence
In fact, 27% of survey respondents report having withheld at least one invention from the organisation in which they worked. In some cases, this can be a simple oversight, but in others, it’s a deliberate act, with inventors knowingly withholding information from their bosses to retain a sense of ownership over their creation.
Why Do Employees Withhold Their Discoveries?
Researchers suggest that there may be psychological reasons for this behavior. Some employee inventors find it difficult to share their most creative ideas, or fear their superiors will appropriate the fruits of their labor. Others may hope to wait until they leave the company before making use of their invention or passing it on to a new employer.
The Consequences of Withholding Information
Withholding information can lead to legal proceedings, where an employer sues a former employee – or their new employer – alleging they are using an invention that the employee conceived while working for them and that the patent rightfully belongs to the original employer.
Paying Employees to File Patents: A Solution?
To curb this, companies often pay a bonus to employees who file patents. However, this is not a systematic approach, and only a handful of countries oblige employers to compensate their inventors with financial rewards. Moreover, money doesn’t always motivate employees to share their brilliant ideas with their superiors, the researchers claim.
Rethinking Innovation Management
So, how can inventors be discouraged from withholding their discoveries? Rethinking the way innovation is managed and placing greater value on the work of these employees could be a good place to start. By recognizing the value of employee inventors and creating an environment that encourages open communication and collaboration, companies can foster a culture of innovation and creativity.
FAQs
* Why do employees withhold their discoveries from their bosses?
+ Some employees may find it difficult to share their most creative ideas, or fear their superiors will appropriate the fruits of their labor.
* What are the consequences of withholding information?
+ Withholding information can lead to legal proceedings, where an employer sues a former employee – or their new employer – alleging they are using an invention that the employee conceived while working for them and that the patent rightfully belongs to the original employer.
* How can companies encourage employees to share their discoveries?
+ Rethinking the way innovation is managed and placing greater value on the work of these employees could be a good place to start. By recognizing the value of employee inventors and creating an environment that encourages open communication and collaboration, companies can foster a culture of innovation and creativity.