Finding Your Voice: The Power of Speaking Up for Workplace Change

Just over a week ago ago, I launched a podcast that I’m incredibly passionate about. The podcast - #HR Hacks & Halos - isn't just another project or a side hustle. It’s something that resonates deeply as I'm calling out bad boss behaviours to change company culture. I'm diving into difficult and often uncomfortable topics in the workplace - sexual assault, bullying, harassment, toxic leadership—issues that too often fly under the radar because they aren’t openly discussed.?

Oh and by the way, for balance I also spotlight great HR topics too. How harnessing the power of feng shui in the workplace can create harmony; how diversity, equality and inclusion can support all employees, and how cultural transformation can lead to greater productivity? These discussions are just as important because they help us see the possibility of what a healthy, inclusive workplace can look like.?

As HR practitioners, business leaders, or even as employees, finding our voice is not optional if we want to change the world of work for the better. The ability to speak up—call out wrongdoing, challenge exploitative behaviours, name those who misuse their authority—has never been more important than it is today. Recent high-profile cases have shown wealthy business owners and powerful figures abusing their position and leveraging their influence to exploit others. Sadly these aren't isolated incidents but systemic problems that need to be addressed with courage, transparency, and accountability.

But where does that change start? It starts with us. It starts with finding our voice.

The Importance of Finding Your Voice

Easier said than done! Fear of retaliation, losing your job, or the emotional toll of being vulnerable, speaking up is terrifying. I know this from my own experience? and understand why people hesitate. But here’s the truth: staying silent allows the status quo to continue unchecked. Silence feeds toxicity, emboldens bad bosses and stifles those who're already marginalised.

When we find our voice, we’re not just speaking for ourselves—we’re speaking for all the others who may not feel able to speak up yet. We’re advocating for healthier, safer, and more respectful workplaces. Whether you’re in HR or leadership, or an employee at any level, our voice can drive change.?

So, why is having a voice so important??

1. Courage Inspires Courage

One person’s courage to speak up often acts as a catalyst for others. It’s the ripple effect. When someone stands up and says, “This behaviour is unacceptable,” it gives permission for others to do the same. Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s acting despite it. As HR professionals, we’re in a unique position to model this courage. Our role isn’t just about ensuring policies are followed; it’s about being proactive in creating environments where people feel safe to speak up.?

The truth is, most employees are reluctant to confront workplace issues such as bad behaviours especially if its being carried out by individuals higher up in the company hierarchy. Fear of repercussions is real. But when someone sees that speaking up can lead to change, it chips away at that fear. Leaders in HR and business have the ability to create spaces where employees feel not only heard but protected. This is where our courage, as HR practitioners, becomes essential. We must be the ones to break the silence.

2. Staying Silent Enables Wrongdoing

Silence doesn’t make problems go away. In fact, silence often enables those in power to continue abusive behaviours without consequence. By staying silent, we inadvertently allow the cycle of abuse to continue. Whether it’s bullying, harassment, discrimination, or outright exploitation, these behaviours thrive in environments where they aren’t challenged. These behaviours fester, causing lasting harm to employees’ well-being, mental health, and even career prospects. In such environments, victims often feel isolated, with no one advocating on their behalf. This is where HR plays a pivotal role. We need to be allies to employees and hold those in power accountable, creating systems where complaints are taken seriously and action is fast.

3. Speaking Up Sets the Standard for Accountability

When employees and leaders speak up, they set the tone for a culture of accountability. Everyone in an organisation—from the C-suite down to entry-level employees—needs to understand that no one is above the rules and that exploitative behaviours will not be tolerated, even individuals who've used their wealth and influence as shields to deflect consequences.

The tides are turning and we're all becoming less tolerant of such abuses of power. HR leaders must lead the charge in establishing processes that ensure accountability, whether that’s through clear reporting structures, employee feedback channels, or transparent investigations. It’s about making sure that the voice of every employee is valued and that leaders know they will be held accountable if they abuse their positions.?

4. Creating Safe Spaces for Everyone

A culture where people can express themselves freely is a healthy one. It’s not enough to have an open-door policy or an anonymous reporting system if employees don’t feel emotionally or psychologically safe enough to use them. True safety in the workplace comes when people know that their concerns will be met with respect, empathy, and action.

As HR professionals, one of our most significant responsibilities is fostering environments where employees feel safe to speak up trusting that their voices will be valued, not ignored or punished. Part of creating safe spaces involves addressing the power imbalances that exist in many workplaces and actively dismantling systems of fear or intimidation, for example, if an employee feels that their job is at risk for speaking up, they’re less likely to do so. By advocating for employee rights and implementing fair policies, we can mitigate these risks and encourage a culture of openness and safety.

5. Driving Cultural Change through Voice

The reality is, company culture doesn’t change overnight, and it doesn’t change without effort. Cultural transformation starts with the willingness to have difficult conversations and challenge long-standing norms. Speaking up is a crucial part of this process.

As HR professionals we’re uniquely positioned to be the drivers of cultural change. We’re the bridge between employees and leadership, and our voices carry significant weight when advocating for systemic change. Whether it's pushing for stronger anti-harassment policies, better mental health support, or more equitable opportunities for all employees, we must use our voice to initiate and sustain cultural shifts.

When people feel safe and valued, they perform better and a healthy company culture leads to higher employee engagement, productivity, and retention. It’s a win for everyone!

6. Voice as a Tool for Empowerment

Ultimately, finding your voice is about empowerment. It’s about realising that you have the power to create change. Each time you speak up, you reclaim a little bit of power that may have been stripped away by fear or intimidation. You empower yourself and others to challenge what’s wrong and demand better.

Empowerment isn’t just for the individual—it’s for all of us together. When employees are empowered to speak up, they contribute to a more inclusive, respectful, and supportive workplace, shaping a culture where integrity and respect are at the forefront.

Final Thoughts: A Call to Action

This podcast I’ve launched is about more than exposing bad bosses or airing grievances—it’s about sparking real, lasting change in the workplace. But I can’t do it alone. Change requires collective action. It requires all of us to find our voices and use them to call out injustice and advocate for better and safer working environments.

As HR professionals, our voices are powerful. We can create spaces where every employee feels safe and valued. By using our voices and encouraging others to do the same, we become agents of change to transform the workplace for everyone.

Don’t stay silent. Speak up. Find your voice. Because without it, nothing will change.

And if you’re an HR professional, leader or business owner and you’ve got a story to tell, I’d love to hear from you. Maybe you’ve enacted change in your workplace, or you’ve seen how speaking up can shift company culture, or this is just too much woke nonsense please reach out and let’s have a conversation! If you’re interested I’d love to have you as a guest on the podcast.

Together, we can create workplaces where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered.

Link to chcek out my podcast: HR Hacks & Halos https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/hr-hacks-halos/id1766301132

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