Are Businesses Stuck in the Dark Ages of Workplace Communication?

In today’s competitive labor market, the ability to source, screen, and select the right candidates is critical. However, even with the most efficient hiring process, a workplace can still suffer from poor culture if communication falters post-hire. For businesses that rely heavily on hourly workers, maintaining engagement can be particularly challenging. Without effective communication, even the best teams can struggle with retention, satisfaction, and overall productivity. So, it begs the question: Are you meeting the needs of an evolving workforce, or is your business still stuck in the dark ages of workplace communication?

Upgrade your employee communication strategy.

The Old Way: Fragmented and Ineffective

Historically, communication in the workplace has been handled in a variety of ways—many of which are outdated and ineffective. When you think about all the recent innovations and HR tech available now, it’s a little surprising businesses still often rely on paper announcements pinned to a bulletin board or SMS chats sent en masse to employees' phones. While these methods may have worked in the past, it simply doesn’t cut it anymore.

The Problems

Scattered Communication: With paper announcements, messages can easily be overlooked or forgotten. SMS chats, while more direct, can quickly become cluttered, leading to important information getting lost in the noise.

Inconsistent Engagement: The key challenge with these methods is that they fail to engage employees consistently, leading to important messages being missed. It requires someone to manually send messages, with negative consequences if they forget.

One-Size-Doesn’t-Fit-All: Traditional communication tools don’t offer the ability to segment messages based on criteria like age, job type, or the specific topic being addressed. This means that all employees receive the same message, regardless of its relevance to them.

Workload Limitations: It’s nearly impossible for managers to conduct regular meetings with every employee in person, especially in a rapidly growing business with hourly workers. So, minor issues often go unaddressed until they become major problems.

Silent Concerns: Employees may not feel comfortable sharing concerns or feedback through these traditional channels, leading to unresolved issues that affect morale and productivity.

The Modern Solution: Proactive and Impactful

To overcome these challenges, businesses must adopt modern communication tools that meet employees where they are—on their phones. HourWork (Powered by Sprockets) enables meaningful communication between frontline leaders and hourly workers at every stage of their employment journey. It’s the “Hello to Goodbye” solution, with the potential for “Hello, Again!” through re-engagement campaigns to those who left on good terms and would be great for new openings.

Read about Sprockets’ recent acquisition of HourWork.

Key Features

Automated Check-Ins: HourWork allows businesses to automate check-ins at critical points in an employee’s journey, such as after their first week, month, or quarter. These check-ins can be used to express appreciation, ask for feedback, and identify any concerns early on.

Stay and Exit Surveys: To better understand what keeps employees engaged or what drives them to leave, HourWork offers customizable stay and exit surveys. These surveys provide valuable insights that can be used to improve the workplace environment and reduce turnover.

Company Announcements: Businesses can send targeted announcements that are segmented by criteria such as age, job type, or location. This ensures each employee receives relevant information, increasing the likelihood they’ll read and engage with the message.

Honest Feedback: By providing employees with an easy way to share their thoughts and concerns, HourWork helps create a more open and communicative workplace culture. Employees are more likely to share honest feedback when they know their opinion is valued.

The Benefits of Effective Communication

Adopting modern communication tools like HourWork can have a profound impact on your business. When you have a handle on consistent, meaningful communication between leadership and hourly employees, it has a trickle-down effect on metrics like employee retention, shift attendance, and productivity.

Improved Engagement and Satisfaction: Consistent and targeted communication helps keep employees informed, involved, and motivated. When employees feel heard and appreciated, their satisfaction levels increase, leading to higher morale and productivity.

Risk Mitigation: Effective communication can help identify and address potential issues before they escalate into conflicts or legal problems. By staying in tune with employee concerns, businesses can proactively mitigate risks.

Address Issues Before They Escalate: Regular check-ins and feedback mechanisms ensure that minor issues are addressed promptly, preventing them from snowballing into larger problems that could disrupt operations.

Emergency Communication: In times of crisis, such as during extreme weather events or health emergencies like COVID-19, having a reliable communication channel is crucial. HourWork enables businesses to quickly send critical information to all employees, ensuring their safety and well-being.

Correlation with Key Metrics: Effective communication is closely tied to important business metrics such as retention, attendance, and productivity. By keeping employees engaged and informed, businesses can reduce turnover, improve attendance rates, and boost overall productivity.

As Tiffani Bova , a renowned business strategist, aptly puts it, “The fastest way to get customers to love your brand is to get employees to love their jobs.”?

Dominic Benvenuti, a Domino’s franchisee who has implemented (and continuously renewed) HourWork, echoes this sentiment, stating, “Our cost-per-hire has gone down by about 30% on HourWork compared to all our other platforms.”

Hear what else Dominic has to say about HourWork.

Keep a “Pulse” on Your Hourly Workforce

Staying in sync with your hourly workforce is more important than ever. Modern communication tools like HourWork are specifically designed to meet the needs of hourly employees, offering ease of use, mass adoption, and a proven track record of success.

If you want to build a healthier, happier workforce, consistent communication is key. With HourWork, you can establish a strong connection with your employees, improve retention, and ultimately, drive better business results. Don’t let your business get stuck in the dark ages—embrace the future of workplace communication today.

Ready to take the next step? Learn more about HourWork and how it can help modernize your workplace communication and create a more cohesive, engaged workforce.

The Hourly Highlight ??

In each newsletter, we shine a spotlight on an industry leader or frontline worker making a significant impact in empowering hourly workers. Whether through fostering a positive workplace culture, leading with empathy, or inspiring others with their dedication, these exceptional individuals are driving meaningful change. This month, we celebrate Barbara Latimer , Director of Operations Services and Talent and Culture for ACG BBQ, LLC .

Barbara has spent her entire career within the Sonny's BBQ ecosystem, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to excellence and a passion for uplifting the hourly workforce. As the Director of Operations Services and Talent and Culture, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s culture and ensuring that every team member feels valued and supported. Her close connection with Christie Schatz , Chief People Officer of Sonny’s BBQ, adds a personal touch to her professional journey. The two have been close friends since high school, and their shared values and dedication to their teams have made a lasting impact on the company.

Christie Schatz speaks highly of Barbara’s contributions:

“Barbara has a tireless work ethic, and her willingness to take on challenges head-on makes her an invaluable part of the Sonny’s family. As long as I’ve known Barbara, she has been unstoppable… and I just admire her sincerity and support to others. She’s a great colleague and an even better friend!”

Under Barbara’s leadership, alongside Scott Frantz , President of ACG BBQ, the largest Sonny's BBQ franchisee with 31 stores, the company has not only maintained consistent growth throughout the Southeast but also enhanced the daily experience for their hourly team members. Their collaborative efforts have created a workplace where employees are empowered and encouraged to thrive.

We applaud Barbara for her unwavering dedication and her ongoing efforts to elevate the hourly workforce. Please join us in celebrating her exceptional work and the positive impact she continues to make within the Sonny's family! ??