Anonymity and confidentiality
Anonymous 360 feedback people trust
Honest feedback only happens when people are sure it can’t be traced back to them. Sidelight builds anonymity into how answers are stored, reported and shared.
How it works
Anonymity built in, not bolted on
No link between names and answers
Answers are stored under a one-way code with no link to the rater list, so they can’t be joined back to the person who gave them.
Small groups are merged
If fewer than three people in a group answer, their scores join “All colleagues”. Sidelight also stops anyone working out a hidden group by subtraction.
Managers know where they stand
The manager’s view is shown separately by default, and managers are told so before they start.
Confidential mode on by default
Admins see who has answered, not what they said. Each person receives their own report by private link.
Comments that don’t give people away
Before submitting, raters can see an optional tip if a comment mentions a date, a meeting or a detail that could reveal who wrote it.
Answers stay on the rater’s device
Saved, unsubmitted answers only open in the browser where the survey was started.
Group results follow the same rules
Team and cohort results only show groups large enough to stay anonymous, and never show comments.
AI sees grouped results only
When you ask questions about results, the AI only sees grouped numbers that pass the small-group rule, never individual answers.
For development, not pay
Sidelight is designed to help people grow. We recommend not using 360 results for pay or promotion decisions.
Run your first 360 free
Join early access and we’ll set you up with your first 360 at no cost.