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theEMPLOYEEapp™ Survey: Internal Communications Affects Job Satisfaction and Employee Engagement

Mobile Technology Allows for Direct and Instantaneous Access between Employers and Employees

NEW YORK (May 20, 2014) — The manner in which employers communicate with their employees has a direct impact on employee engagement and job satisfaction, according to theEMPLOYEEapp’s 2014 Employee Communications Satisfaction Survey of more than 325 U.S.-based workers.

The survey looked at the importance of communications to employee engagement and job satisfaction as well as current and preferred methods of employee communications. In answering the question, "Does the way in which your employer communicates with you impact your job satisfaction," the majority — 65 percent — said yes.

Given the recent proliferation of mobile technology, the survey also sought to determine the extent to which employees use mobile devices for work and how legacy communications methodologies are currently being utilized by an increasingly mobile workplace.

Jeff Corbin, Founder and CEO of theCOMMSapp™, a family of communications app building solutions that includes theEMPLOYEEapp for secure, internal communications, said, "theEMPLOYEEapp’s 2014 Employee Communications Satisfaction Survey confirms that communications in the workplace is not only changing due to advancements in technology, but is a critical part of an employee’s job satisfaction and overall engagement. A recent Gallup Organization study on workplace engagement found that 70 percent of the workforce is not engaged in their job and, as a result, this costs corporate America $550 billion in lost revenue every year. "Based on the results of our survey, employers have an opportunity to increase engagement and reduce lost revenue simply by changing the way they communicate."

Mobile devices proliferate even if not part of company driven policy

The way in which people do their work is changing. TheEMPLOYEEapp survey found that only half (53 percent) of those surveyed spend the majority of their time (75 percent or more) behind a desk. The other half reported spending their day at non-desk settings that include factories and warehouses, agriculture/farming, field service (e.g., television, telephone, Internet, etc.), on-the-road, among others.

Given that many employees are no longer desk-bound and with the recent proliferation of mobile technology, theEMPLOYEEapp survey inquired as to employee preferences when it came to the use of mobile devices in the workplace. With regard to mobile device ownership:

96 percent of those surveyed possess a mobile device;
42 percent were provided with such device by their employer;
58 percent did not receive a device from their employer, but still purchased one on their own;
Of those who purchased a device on their own, 66 percent used it for work related purposes.

Corbin said, "Having recently attended Apps World 2014 in San Francisco, companies of all sizes — small, medium and enterprise — are beginning to recognize that they need to consider mobile strategies not only for communications, but for many other aspects of their business. Whether or not a company supports a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, employees are using their devices in their jobs. Employers have an opportunity to take advantage of the power of these devices to improve communications and hence, engagement."

Corbin added, "With regard to communications specifically, the mobile device enables something that until recently did not exist — the ability to connect and communicate directly and instantaneously with a targeted audience. Employees are one, if not the most important audiences of any company or organization. The mobile device presents an immediate solution for employers to connect with and directly engage with this audience."

Not all current communications methodologies are well-suited for mobile

According to the survey, 93.4 percent reported that email is the most common way in which employers currently communicate important, company specific information to their employees. And, without a better solution, email is the preferred method by which employees want to receive company news (87 percent). Other methods in which employees receive company information include:

In person – 54 percent
Corporate Intranets (SharePoint) – 33 percent
Mobile apps – 29 percent
Conference calls/webinars – 25 percent
Internal social collaboration networks (SharePoint, Yammer, Jive, Salesforce Chatter, etc.) – 14 percent

With regard to utilization of these platforms on mobile device, 82 percent of those with corporate Intranets said they either have never tried to access this channel via their mobile device or have a difficult time doing so. Similarly, with regard to social collaboration networks, 78 percent of those who have such networks have either never tried to access them or have a difficult time doing so via the mobile device.

Corbin said, "Given the early stage in which mobile is becoming incorporated into business processes, it is not surprising that email remains the primary internal communications method. Nevertheless, based on our many conversations with communications professionals, it is becoming clear that employees are overloaded with emails. As a result, important employee communications are being missed."

He concluded, "The fact that employees find it challenging to access corporate Intranets and social collaboration tools via mobile is likely a result of organizations maintaining legacy communications systems that were originally developed for desktop computers. Based on current research on the use of corporate Intranets and as can be determined from our survey, trying to make legacy systems responsive to the mobile device is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Given the ability to directly connect with employees through their very personal mobile device, theEMPLOYEEapp Survey therefore suggests that employers could benefit from a mobile first communications strategy — this will go a long way towards improving job satisfactions and employee engagement."

About theCOMMSapp

theCOMMSapp™ is a family of communications app building solutions that includes theIRapp® (for public companies and funds), theEMPLOYEEapp™ (a secure employee communications mobile portal) and theCOMMSapp (for external communications).

It allows any organization that has a defined and targeted audience to have direct access to these important individuals and to optimize its content for iPhone, iPad and Android mobile devices. In only a few weeks, any company can have their own app available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play to provide important company information that can include presentations, videos, audio podcasts, photographs, media placements (print and broadcast), fact sheets and marketing materials. Companies can also stream live events through the app.

For more information about theCOMMSapp visit www.theCOMMSapp.com and follow the company on Twitter @theCOMMSapp.

Media Contact:

Katherine Swift/Danielle DeVoren

KCSA Strategic Communications

kswift@kcsa.com/ddevoren@kcsa.com

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