4 things you can do to connect and engage the non-desk workforce.

Posted at 2:23 pm by Bill Shirk, on October 14, 2016

non-desk-employees

Almost every company has employees that move around all day. These are your non-desk employees. They range from warehouse workers, factory workers, delivery drivers to service technicians, food service workers and hospital staff. Communicating with them and engaging them can be very difficult. These non-desk employees can end up feeling disengaged and not part of the company.

Non-desk employees often are the first contact with customers and are representing the company’s brand. So how do you communicate and engage these non-desk employees effectively? How do you keep them happy, loyal workers? And how do you provide them the information that they need in a way they want to receive it?

1. Almost everyone has a smartphone today.

Start with harnessing mobile technology to connect your non-desk workforce. Use a mobile messaging app as your main source of internal communication to connect the entire company via their mobile devices. Using a mobile app will enable everyone to share information, images and videos, schedule meetings and events. A mobile app will allow you to send a survey, communicate company news or announcements and send links to important documents such as benefits and open enrollment materials. A mobile app will also allow the multi-generational workforce to access the information when they want it.

2. Digital video message boards.

Place digital displays in high traffic areas like break rooms or near restrooms. Digital message boards can be setup wirelessly and updated instantly. Post the latest news, videos or any important company announcements.

3. Team meetings and town hall meetings.

Communicating in person with your non-desk employees should be a vital part of your internal communication plan. You can hand out documents, answer questions and share the latest company news. Include town hall meetings and shift meetings in your communications strategy.

4. Printed information still works.

Providing non-desk workers printed documents may seem outdated but they still work. Home mailers, in office posters and banners along with break rooms table tents and take-one handouts can communicate successfully when they are crafted properly.

So remember, it’s important to include non-desk employees in all your communications to help build a successful company culture, empower and improve loyalty and ultimately improve your company’s bottom line.

Author: Bill Shirk

A Cleveland, Ohio native, Bill Shirk graduated from Cooper School of Art and began his career as an advertising art director and, later as a creative director. After working a dozen years in both Cleveland and Cincinnati, Bill relocated to Los Angeles to work for Dailey & Associates. Bill was then recruited by Ogilvy & Mather, Atlanta, St John & Partners in Jacksonville and Mastermind Marketing in Atlanta. In 1998, Bill and his wife, Sue, founded Think Tank Communications, an innovative marketing firm that creates highly effective, engaging employee communication programs for benefits, wellness, corporate culture, leadership messaging, on-boarding and more. Bill enjoys training and teaching staff and clients. In addition to having plenty of big-name client experience, he has a refreshingly positive management style and provides a unique, creative perspective when it comes to big strategic thinking. When he’s not creating employee engagement programs or blogging on brain-xchange, Bill likes to golf, garden, and play fetch with his cat, Pepper. His all-time favorite pastime: ice cream.

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