One of the few things that could really damage the team spirit in the workplace is idea theft. Simply put, it occurs when someone, intentionally or unintentionally, claims a thought as their own and takes all the credit for it. Sadly, it’s a norm in some companies for the manager to take credit for the team’s idea.
As an HR, you should not let it go unchecked and ignored. This is about more than losing credit; it’s also about how it affects employees’ productivity and jeopardizes the company culture. Here’s how it impacts the morale of those who do not get the deserving credit for their ideas.
The Impact of Idea Theft in the Workplace
Think of an employee who has been working hard on creating a well-researched and structured marketing plan. After sharing the outcome with the manager, they are praised for their contributions to the company. However, after presenting it to the higher-ups, the manager takes all the credit for the task without mentioning the employee’s name.
It’s fair to say that it must’ve left a bitter taste in the employee’s mouth. They may have felt cheated, discouraged, and disheartened. It’s only natural for them to question themselves before putting in any effort in their next task. This could lead to lower employee morale and satisfaction.
Whenever it’s about idea theft, people think that it’s always the managers who do it. But that is not true. You’ll find many cases where juniors have also stolen ideas.
Two of your employees have built something together. They’ve figured out a way to streamline a complicated internal process that would save both time and resources. But, a few days later, you find out that one of the two has taken full credit for the idea in the meeting. The other employee may have chosen not to respond, possibly to avoid creating tension or appearing unprofessional.
It’s likely that after this, the other employee may not feel like putting effort into the project as it won’t be credited to them. They won’t participate in the discussions and meetings, ultimately affecting their productivity. This detachment would also impact the company, as it’ll lose out on valuable insights from this employee. As a domino effect, other employees may also feel that if their efforts aren’t to be appreciated or credited to them, they might as well not do it altogether.
How To Reduce the Chances of Idea Theft Happening?
Training Employees to Handle Idea Theft Professionally
Getting your idea stolen is an awkward situation. The first time it happens, employees may not know how to react. Statistics say that 44% of employees have had their ideas stolen. If something similar is happening at your workplace, then you need to ask them to speak up.
As an HR of the company, you should train them on how to claim what is rightfully theirs. Make sure they don’t come off as rude or aggressive while claiming the credit. They must be poise and professional. Ask them to frame their thoughts and effectively communicate their perspective without belittling those who have stolen their idea. It’ll ensure that there’s a respectful dialogue.
Sometimes deserving credit can also be taken in subtle ways by using phrases like, “I support this idea wholeheartedly, I pitched it last week”, and “We worked on this idea together, they did the research, and I collated the data points.”
Leveraging Technology for Documentation and Transparency
Such claims can’t just be made without proper proof and documentation. Use a centralized system where all the team contributions can be recorded and can be traced back as well.
There are some popular document software out there that lets you check each and every document’s revision history. It also provides details of who has made an addition and when they made it. So, you will always be able to track everyone’s contributions with software like this. If there comes a situation where idea theft has taken place, you just need a few clicks, and you will find out who deserves real credit.
If there has been a situation where the theft has already happened, ask the employee to send a formal email to the said individual, asking for proper credit.
Establishing Policies to Prevent Idea Theft
To reduce the chance of this happening, the company’s policies also play a role. Right from the get-go, inform every employee about the rules related to intellectual property in the workplace. One of the ways to do it is by using greytHR while onboarding employees.
Rules like these and a zero-tolerance policy about idea theft could be mentioned here and be made available for everyone to read all the time. This way, no one can take the easy way out of the situation, saying, “Oh, I had no idea about this.” And, if you come across multiple cases of idea thefts from a single employee, address them publicly and keep checking up if they are repeating their behavior.
Changing The Company Culture
The company’s culture plays a huge role when it comes to idea theft. If your company rewards aggressive and competitive behavior, such incidents are likely to occur frequently. So even before going to your manager to have a conversation about this, think about the company culture first.
Come up with small changes that can make the culture more forgiving, understanding, and open. Then you can bring this up in your next meeting with the managers. Changing the culture is a major task, but it has to start somewhere. Soon enough, you will notice that problems like idea thefts will begin to reduce.
Summing up
Taking credit for someone else’s hard work is a terrible thing to do. Not only does it affect employee’s morale, but also discourages them from putting in effort. Teach your employees to speak up and managers to follow ethical practices in such scenarios. Create a culture in the company that discourages doing such acts. Having an open discussion about this is crucial, as it could lead to a lot of unresolved issues in the future.
FAQs
What Is Idea Theft in the Workplace?
When someone takes credit for an idea or any work that they haven’t come up with, it is known as idea theft. Such situations usually happen in meetings or pitches, where the manager takes credit entirely for everything. This can lead to a dip in employee morale and productivity.
How Can Idea Theft Affect a Business?
If there’s idea theft at a company, the employee/s can feel demoralized and feel less motivated to do any task. It could also influence their creativity and make them feel less valued, which would ultimately harm the company.
How Does Idea Theft in the Workplace Impact Employee Morale and Productivity?
Idea theft in the workplace can lead to reduced productivity and trust, demotivated employees, and low morale among employees. It’ll also damage relations and camaraderie in the workplace, where employees will hesitate to share ideas.
