PurposeThe aim of this study is to explore and unpack the notion of lateral voice within the context of a Chinese hospital.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative design was used, involving interviews of 24 medical personnel from a public hospital in mainland China. This included two focus groups (eight participants each) of physicians and nurses, and eight individual interviews with managers, including a chief nurse and directors of the medical centre.FindingsThe findings reveal that in top-down contexts with a respect for hierarchy, direct and vertical voice is discouraged but lateral voice fills this gap and can lead in some circumstances to a pathway to collective vertical voice. Interestingly, the study finds that fear of damaging relationships with peers may also discourage lateral voice in some cases, leading to silence altogether. Contradictory lateral voice outcomes arising from employees working within this context are discussed.Originality/valueThe study makes an original contribution to voice literature through exploring an understudied voice target, that is, voicing to peers. In doing so, the study demonstrates the importance of lateral voice as an important component of voice behaviour.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Towards the end of 2013, Edwin Samson, the Chief Coordinator of Adult Basic Education Society Teacher Empowerment Centre (ABES-TEC), a non-profit, non-sectarian NGO promoting quality education in the private and the public schools of Pakistan, began to reflect in earnest over ways to make the organization self-sustainable. ABES-TEC was responsible for implementing different projects initiated by local as well as international donors. Due to a reliance on donor funding, Samson had recently downsized the NGO workforce yet again. This was a course of action that he had been unwilling to undertake as he felt that abrupt downsizing would demotivate all the NGO employees and adversely affect their work performance. In order to retain employees, ABES-TEC had to strive for self-sustainability rather than depending solely on arbitrary project funding.