Commentary: Why 'You suggest, you do lah!' is the wrong response to an employee who speaks up

According to Associate Professor Victor Seah at Singapore University of Social Sciences, workplace silence isn't timidity—it's self-defense. Workers stay quiet because they're wondering: what happens if I speak up? Many companies claim they welcome ideas, then respond with 'you suggest, you do,' signaling that initiatives come at a personal cost. That gap between inviting feedback and actually welcoming it is exactly why employees choose silence.

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