The good news for human resources people who send out communiqués with employees: They are reading it.
The bad news is: They're not liking what they're reading.
That's the word from a survey by communications specialist Davis & Company, which solicited input from 1,000 employees of large companies.
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What the survey found was that 100 percent of employees at least skim the enrollment period and other communications missives from their HR department. But only 30 percent said they were happy with the communication. And 50 percent simply shrugged their shoulders dismissively when asked what they thought of the content.
Asked to identify communications clarity by subject matter, here's the numbers on satisfaction by topic:
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Compensation: only 25 percent feel they have the information they need;
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Benefits: only 15 percent feel they have the information they need;
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Performance management: 11.5 percent feel they have the information they need.
Further, time, place and age affects employees' attitudes toward HR communication. For example:
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Employees who work in companies with more than 10,000 people are more frustrated with HR communication.
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Branch/satellite employees are twice as unhappy than at headquarters.
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As employees work for companies longer, or get older, their frustration grows.
Now, don't despair. There's cause for optimism amidst the miasma. Three-quarters said reading the stuff from HR was a good use of their time — which means they think it's important; they just wish it were better written and had a bit more meat on the bone.
"The good news is employees care about HR communication," said Alison Davis, CEO of Davis & Company. "But employees' needs are not being met. They find HR communication to be too complex and inconvenient. This survey shows us that there is clearly room for improvement."
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Dan Cook
Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.
