My manager read out the results of a “confidential” engagement survey. I don’t feel this is right.

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The original was posted on /r/antiwork by /u/fairwellfairground on 2024-11-18 10:14:09+00:00.

Every six months, my company asks us to fill out a “confidential” engagement survey. I work in a large marketing industry, and I assumed the surveys were for the wider company’s statistics.

Last week, though, my manager gathered our team, read out our scores, and started sharing some of our “anonymous” answers. Even though she wasn’t given names, it quickly became clear she could guess who wrote what. My colleagues all denied responsibility, which made it obvious I had written the harsher feedback.

I’ll admit my answers were critical this year. I find my manager abrupt and belittling, and she plays favorites with my colleagues. Our team dynamic feels cliquey, with the “popular, bubblier” colleagues in the spotlight while I’m more of the older, quieter one. I’m also awaiting an autism diagnosis, and my manager has previously told me she finds me “disengaged” and “aloof” even though that’s never my intention.

After sharing the survey results, she said anyone with negative feedback should reach out to discuss it further. But I’m not willing to do that. This survey was supposed to be anonymous, and I feel betrayed that my line manager has access to the results in this way. Now I feel even more alienated and disliked because I’m sure my feedback stood out.

To make things worse, my end-of-year review is coming up, and I’m terrified my manager is going to bring up my survey responses and hold them against me.

Am I overreacting, or is this as inappropriate as it feels?