Corporate leaders often say they want employees to speak up and offer new ideas, challenge processes and call out unethical behavior. However, research shows that those same leaders generally react negatively to employees who challenge them, even when done constructively.
Source: Harvard Business Review, October 18, 2016.
Building speaking up cultures is, on the whole, a good thing. However, senior leaders should be wary of encouraging employees to speak up without also training their middle managers in how to respond. Wise companies encourage both their managers and their employees to communicate candidly, without dysfunctional repercussions.