Effective communication among a diverse, deskless workforce determines the success of any company.

Deskless workers—who represent nearly 80% of the global workforce—frequently encounter challenges due to their mobility, limited access to standard communication devices, and diverse backgrounds.

Using inclusive communication strategies helps us increase engagement and productivity as well as create a more inclusive and encouraging workplace by means of knowledge and conquering of these challenges.

Organizations have to give inclusive workplace communication a top priority in the constantly changing corporate climate of today to make sure every employee—from any level of responsibility—feels valued and heard. For deskless workers specifically, whose specific working conditions could make them feel isolated from the rest of the business, this is particularly crucial.

Understanding the Deskless Workforce

The deskless workforce consists of people who do not work from a traditional office desk. Many ethnic, linguistic, and geographic backgrounds determine the variety of this workforce. This diversity necessitates inclusive communication techniques to make sure every staff member feels appreciated and understood.

Here are some common sectors employing deskless workers:

• Retail: Sales associates, stock clerks, and cashiers.
• Healthcare: Nurses, medical assistants, and technicians.
• Manufacturing: Factory workers, machine operators, and assemblers.
• Hospitality: Hotel staff, chefs, and waiters.
• Transportation: Delivery drivers, truck drivers, and pilots.

Diversity within the Deskless Workforce

The diverse, deskless workforce is a melting pot of many languages, cultures, and experiences. This variety brings a broad spectrum of thoughts and viewpoints.

However, organizations also have to deal with the following communication issues:

• Cultural Diversity: Deskless employees come from many different cultural backgrounds, which can affect their preferred means of communication and style.
• Linguistic Diversity: Many deskless employees speak several languages; hence, multilingual communication tools are quite necessary.
• Geographical Diversity: The dispersion of deskless employees across multiple locations may pose challenges to regular communication.

Also Read: 2024 in Focus: Cost Savings with Frontline Employee Retention

Key Challenges in Communicating with Deskless Workers

Good communication with deskless employees presents various special challenges for companies that they must overcome to ensure diversity and involvement. Developing plans that fit a diverse deskless workforce starts with an awareness of these challenges.

Here are some key challenges:

1.  Mobility and Access Issues

The constant mobility of deskless workers makes it difficult to reach them via conventional communication channels. Their reliance on mobile devices and lack of access to PCs can restrict the kinds of communication they receive. One major difficulty is making sure these employees have access to crucial data when they most need it.

2.  Technology Gaps

Not every deskless employee uses the newest technologies. This digital gap can hinder effective communication, particularly when transmitting complex material. Businesses have to figure out how to close this disparity and give every staff member equal access to communication tools.

3.  Varied Communication Preferences and Styles

Deskless employees come from many backgrounds, which influences their choices for information intake and processing. While some may prefer verbal or written communication, others may prefer visual aids. Ensuring excellent communication depends on an awareness of these preferences and a modification of communication techniques.

Also Read: How to Engage Your Deskless Workforce in 5 Simple Steps

Strategies for Inclusive Communication

Organizations must use customized and creative ideas if they want to overcome the communication obstacles presented by a diverse, deskless workforce.

All workforce levels should guarantee inclusion, accessibility, and involvement through these employee inclusion strategies:

1. Leveraging Mobile-Friendly Communication Tools

Task management and instant messaging mobile apps can help deskless workers close their distance from the rest of the company. These tools should be easily available and user-friendly to guarantee ongoing communication even without a continuous internet connection.

Benefits of Mobile-Friendly Tools

• Accessibility: Ensures that deskless employees have information available anywhere, at any moment.
• Real-Time Updates: Real-time updates and alerts help to keep employees aware of significant changes.
• Task Management: Task management helps to arrange tasks and obligations, raising general output.

Examples of Mobile-Friendly Tools

• Slack: Offers instant messaging, file sharing, and video conferencing capabilities.
• Microsoft Teams: Provides a platform for team collaboration, including chat, video meetings, and file storage.
• Workplace by Facebook: Facilitates communication through groups, chat, and live video.

2. Emphasizing Visual and Multimedia Communication

Messages delivered using videos, infographics, and visuals may be more impactful than those rich in text. Short audio and video messages offer notices and updates in an intriguing and quickly absorbed style.

Advantages of Visual Communication

• Clarity: Visual aids help to clarify difficult material so that employees can grasp it more easily.
• Engagement: Multimedia material is more interesting and may grab workers’ attention more successfully.
• Retention: Information given graphically is more likely to be remembered by people than that delivered through simple text.

Best Practices for Multimedia Communication

• Keep It Short: Short videos and infographics are more likely to be watched and understood.
• Use High-Quality Visuals: Ensure that images and videos are clear and of high quality to avoid misunderstandings.
• Include Captions and Subtitles: For videos, include captions and subtitles to cater to workers with hearing impairments or those who speak different languages.

3. Fostering a Culture of Open and Two-Way Communication

By means of surveys and polls, encouraging feedback lets deskless employees express their ideas and worries. Frequent updates and check-ins guarantee that employees feel heard and valued and help sustain interest.

Creating an Open Communication Culture

• Regular Feedback: Frequent surveys and feedback sessions help you to get opinions from deskless employees.
• Two-Way Dialogue: Encourage honest communication between management and deskless employees to handle issues and enhance relations by means of two-way discourse.
• Recognition and Appreciation: Acknowledgment and gratitude for the efforts of deskless employees help raise morale and involvement.

Tools for Open Communication

• SurveyMonkey: Allows for the creation of customized surveys to encourage feedback from employees.
• Google Forms: A free tool for creating surveys and collecting responses.
• Polly: An app for Slack and Microsoft Teams that enables quick polls and surveys.

4. Tailoring Communication to Diverse Preferences

Offering data via several channels—email, SMS, and mobile apps—allows for the different tastes of a diverse deskless workforce. Changing communication methods to fit various cultural and personal tastes improves understanding and inclusion.

Strategies for Tailored Communication

• Multichannel Communication: Multichannel communication allows you to properly reach every employee by combining several channels.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Consider cultural variances and modify your approach of communication.
• Personalization: Personalizing messages will help them be more relevant and interesting for particular employees.

Examples of Tailored Communication

• Email Newsletters: Regular updates and announcements can be sent via email to keep workers informed.
• SMS Alerts: Important information and urgent updates can be sent via SMS to ensure immediate attention.
• Mobile Apps: Use apps to provide access to company news, updates, and resources in a convenient format.

5. Implementing Recognition and Engagement Programs

Emphasizing accomplishments and benchmarks using channels of communication will help raise spirits. Gamified learning events and team challenges help foster a sense of community and involvement.

Benefits of Recognition Programs

• Motivation: Acknowledging successes drives staff members to do better.
• Engagement: Engaged employees are more productive and dedicated to their tasks.
• Team Spirit: Celebrating benchmarks and successes helps build team spirit and community.

Examples of Recognition and Engagement Programs

• Employee of the Month: Highlighting top performers through newsletters, apps, and social media.
• Team Challenges: Organizing friendly competitions to promote teamwork and engagement.
• Gamified Learning: Using gamification to make training and learning more engaging and fun.

6. Arranging Training for Managers

Managers should be empowered with best practices for interacting with various deskless teams. By providing inclusive communication and cultural sensitivity training, managers can ensure effective interaction with every employee.

Importance of Manager Training

• Effective Leadership: Well-trained managers can lead their teams more effectively.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Training on cultural sensitivity helps managers communicate better with a diverse workforce.
• Inclusivity: Ensures that all employees feel valued and included.

Topics for Manager Training

• Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding and respecting cultural differences.
• Communication Skills: Enhancing verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• Feedback and Recognition: Best practices for giving feedback and recognizing achievements.

7. Measuring Effectiveness and Adjusting Strategies

Analytics can monitor how well communication plans work. Frequent assessments and changes based on data and comments help to keep communication initiatives relevant and efficient.

Measuring Communication Effectiveness

• Surveys and Feedback: Frequent employee feedback via surveys and comments helps evaluate the success of communication.
• Engagement Metrics: Track open rates, click-through rates, and involvement levels among engagement indicators.
• Performance Data: Examining performance statistics will help you find areas needing improvement.

Adjusting Communication Strategies

• Data-Driven Decisions: Choose communication methods based on data-driven facts and feedback.
• Continuous Improvement: Review and change plans often to guarantee they remain relevant and successful.
• Employee Involvement: Let employees help evaluate and enhance communication plans.

Also Read: Proven Techniques to Maximize Internal Email Effectiveness

Case Studies and Examples

Here are two prominent examples of effective communication strategies for a diverse deskless workforce:

HM: Effective Communication in Retail

H&M, a leading global fashion brand, has effectively handled communication issues within its retail operations by collaborating with the mobile-first communication platform Oneteam. Before OneTeam was implemented, H&M had problems with irregular communication lines and information overload, which confused and made its deskless employees find it ineffective.

To overcome these challenges, H&M utilized the OneTeam platform, designed to facilitate two-way communication for both desk-based and deskless employees. OneTeam’s features, including mobile accessibility, digital learning modules, and feedback collection tools, offered a consistent communication solution that was both motivating and simple to use.

Oneteam’s deployment coincided with the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, which underlined the need for strong leadership communication technologies since stores closed and staff members worked remotely. Through updates and challenges, the platform lets H&M keep employees connected and sustain high levels of engagement.

The EMPLOYEE app: Bridging the Gap in Manufacturing

The EMPLOYEE app provides solutions tailored to the particular communication difficulties industrial workers have. Employees who are always on the go, have limited access to conventional communication tools, and come from many cultural and linguistic origins abound in manufacturing settings.

The EMPLOYEE app provides a mobile-first communication platform designed to address these specific needs. Key features of the app include:

• Mobile Accessibility: Ensures that all employees can access information on their mobile devices, regardless of their location.
• Multimedia Messaging: Uses videos, images, and infographics to convey messages effectively, catering to different learning styles and preferences.
• Two-Way Communication: Allows employees to provide feedback and engage in open dialogue with management, fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration.

Also Read: 7 Dos and Don’ts of HR Communication at Work

To Wrap Up

Supporting a diverse deskless workforce requires inclusive communication. Organizations may improve engagement and productivity by using mobile-friendly solutions, stressing visual communication, encouraging honest discourse, and customizing their messages to fit various preferences.

Frequent strategy evaluation and modification guarantee that communication stays inclusive and efficient, helping the company be generally successful.

So, as companies strive to create a more connected and inclusive work environment, prioritizing these communication strategies will be essential for fostering a cohesive and engaged deskless workforce.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the key benefits of inclusive communication for deskless workers?

Among deskless workers, inclusive communication improves engagement, productivity, and job satisfaction. It guarantees that every employee feels appreciated and understood, promoting a more inclusive and friendly workplace.

2. How can mobile-friendly communication tools help deskless workers?

Tools for mobile-friendly communication let deskless employees remain connected and informed even on their travels. By bridging the divide between deskless workers and the rest of the company, these solutions can offer immediate communications, task management, and access to critical data.

3. Why is it important to tailor communication to diverse preferences?

Tailoring communication to diverse preferences ensures that all employees can understand and engage with the information being shared. It respects the cultural and personal differences within the workforce, promoting inclusivity and enhancing overall communication effectiveness.

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