Sotto Voce: The Impacts of Technology to Enhance Worker Voice

Achyuta Adhvaryu, Smit Gade, Teresa Molina and Anant Nyshadham

The Economic Journal, 2026, vol. 136, issue 674, 798-812

Abstract: We conducted a randomised controlled trial in which we enabled workers to directly and anonymously communicate with human resources through mobile-phone-based technology. Treated workers were much more likely to know about the tool than controls, though usage was low: only 5% of treated workers reported ever using it. Despite this, turnover and absenteeism were 10% and 5% lower, respectively, for treated versus control workers. Together these findings suggest a substantial option value of enhancing worker voice, which can promote positive workplace behaviours even when workers do not directly avail themselves of the technology.

Date: 2026
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