Workers More Likely To Lie By Email: Study
Posted January 12, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Email.
Love it or hate it, it’s changed the way most people do business.
It can be a colossal time waster, with some surveys showing workers lose precious minutes or even hours a week just trying to keep up with it all.
It can also be a time saver, allowing employees to communicate quick messages to each other without interrupting their normal tasks.
And then there’s a new study that should give even the most ardent electronic letter recipient pause as they peruse that long list of headers at their desk.
Two psychologists at the University of Central Lancashire in England surveyed more than 130 workplace communications and have reached the conclusion that employees are more likely to lie if they send an email.
The doctors found that if a person is going to bend the truth to a co-worker or a boss, it generally happens through a note sent from their computer.
Some form of deception was detected in 15-33 percent of all workplace communication, with the most common being information that was either withheld or distorted, ambiguous responses that didn’t answer a question, or changing a subject to try and get past a white lie.
The researchers found 15 percent of all respondents actually admitted to deliberately lying in the email they sent to fellow employees.
What does it mean to you? Don’t believe everything you read, even if it’s sent by someone you know.
“This study suggests that deception occurs frequently in everyday workplace communications,” explains Dr. Sandi Mann in a statement. “Some types of deception occur more frequently than others and managers and employees should be on their guard for these.”
The psychologists note it’s a lot harder to lie to someone’s face than someone’s PC, and that direct meetings may encourage more honesty.
“Not only does deception occur less frequently in face-to-face interactions, but also when people are communicating with those that they feel closer to,” Mann concludes.
Why all the lies? The research didn’t delve into specific reasons, but Mann seems to feel it’s a lot more about impressing others than covering up incompetence.
And the more competitive the place, the bigger the problem.
Which is why if it there’s an important issue on the job, the study suggests you hold a sit down get-together. Because if you believe the conclusions, lying on the job is a true problem.
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