Most employees at large companies agree on one single fact that the HR communication mechanism in place, fails to meet their specific needs. Employees increasingly find HR communication to be too complex and inconvenient.

According to recently commissioned study by Davis & Company, a leader in employee communication on Human Resources Communication found that while nearly 100 percent of respondents read or skim HR communication, only 30 percent are happy with communication they receive, and 50 percent feel indifferent.

This study was commissioned to understand how employees feel about benefits, compensation and performance management communication. “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.”

Key findings from the survey are:

1. Employees spend time with HR communication

• 75% say it’s a “good use of their time”
• Nearly 100% either read every word or skim/browse
• Employees are more likely to thoroughly read compensation materials, over benefits and performance management. This is consistent across generations
• Employees are more likely to toss performance management communication. And Millennials are twice as likely to delete/toss performance management communication than Gen X and Boomers

2. HR communication does not meet employees’ needs

• Only 30% are happy with the communication they receive
• 50% are indifferent

See: HR Analytics: Go data crunching and set communication protocol

3. Employees aren’t getting answers to their questions

Top sources for employees when they have questions are: company intranet, HR representative and managers. Only half of employees feel they get the answer they need from their preferred source. For Millennials, it’s only 40% of the time. Managers are the go-to source, with intranet following closely. As a third option, Millennials are as likely to speak with a colleague.

4. Age, tenure, location and company size impact employees’ satisfaction

• Employees who work in companies with more than 10,000 people are more frustrated with HR communication
• Branch/satellite employees are twice as unhappy than at their headquarters
• As employees work for companies longer, or get older, their frustration grows
• Boomers are twice as frustrated over Millennials. Millennials are more neutral about HR communication than Gen X and Boomers.

5. HR communication does not prepare employees to make decisions about:

• Compensation: only 25% feel they have the information they need
• Benefits: only 15%
• Performance management:5%
• Employees are less satisfied with performance management communication

Some of the suggestions made by employees to HR managers for improved HR communication are:

1. Easy access to a live person who can answer all of their questions
2. Simple, clear and easy to understand communication in normal language is preferred by employees.
3. More targeted content and less of generic information to save on time and facilitate effective HR communication to bridge gaps

The study is a guide for HR managers to work towards improved employee-HR communication for better engagement and retention of the talented workforce.

Also read: Challenges to Crisis Communication in HR: Are You Prepared?

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