How to get management at your company investigated?
 

I know poor management and coverups are common place at a lot of companies. Is there anything you can do to get them investigated (preferrably anoymously without negative reprocussion by the management) by the higher ups so that the workplace can be improved thus increase productivity?

Some companies have ethics hotlines but in most there really isn't too much you can do.

Jumping the chain of command is generally frowned upon by most companies. Like onetime2, I think you pretty much are stuck.

Well that sucks. Oh well I'm leaving the company in the few months. I just wanted to improve the workplace for my friends there.

Well, I have been known to meet with people just prior to my departure to let them know how things can be improved. It's not something you can do anonymously however. I've sat down with those who I felt could implement changes and told them the things I saw that could be improved.

If you go this route, it needs to be handled carefully so your friends don't pay a price since they're still there. I'm always sure to give specific examples of behaviors that hurt the company, offer ideas for how they can be solved (training for certain managers, better communication from leaders, etc), and make a point to keep it from being an attack on individuals or the company itself. If the perceive you to just be a bitter, soon to be ex-employee they won't even consider the message.

The reception I've gotten has been mixed. Both times I did it I think they were happy to hear the feedback but unhappy with the fact that most of the problems weren't easy to fix (in some cases impossible to fix).

Exit Interview. Tell HR so that it is documented. that's all i've got to suggest.

Just remember one thing, there is no such thing as anonymity.

If you are going to report something, have a female friend, outside of the company, call a hotline from a payphone.

For god's sake don't give them your real name!

I learned this the hard way :(

Usually the company has an anonymous hotline you can call. All you have to do is report what you would like them to check out and then someone will come down and observe your work place for a day or so. They will usually talk to other employees and see if they have the same complaint. They had a hotline like this at a place that I worked and a guy I worked with called and complained on one of our managers. They came down and had a talk with her. But she never found out that he had reported her.

Go out Office Space style: steal millions of dollars from the corporation and make sure you take a bat to a few printers.

I think the best thing you can do is tell your friends to get out there. The only way companies even consider things like complaints is if they're made by the people who keep their business going or if there's a substantial amount of employees who complain.

There are evident risks with make complaints against a company you still work for so you'll probably be making the complaints solo - in which case you'll be viewed as a disgruntled employee on his way out trying to raise havoc on his exit.

Leave on good terms and put it all in your past - you never know when you'll need the refference from that place. Besides, you're leaving anyway.