Employee engagement Research

According to new employee engagement research, 35 per cent of workers in the UK believe they would be happier in their jobs if communication within their organisation was better. This figure suggests that businesses across the country could significantly boost staff retention by prioritizing better communication.

When asked to rate their company’s communication quality (out of 10, with 10 being excellent), nearly half (40%) of respondents gave a score of 5 or less.

The study, commissioned by competitive advantage consultancy Herkess Marketing and conducted by OnePoll, surveyed 2,000 full and part-time adult workers across the UK about the quality of communication in their workplaces and uncovered clear evidence of a widespread communication breakdown in the country.

One in six people (17%) across the country rated their workplace communication as "poor" (a rating of three out of ten or less).

Nearly a third (31%) gave their employer a ‘very good’ rating, scoring them eight or higher.

Women (35%) were more likely than men (29%) to think they'd be more engaged and happier in their job if communication was better.

From an age perspective, 18 to 34 year olds (43%) were the least likely to feel engaged and to want better communication at work. This figure dropped sharply to 32 per cent among those aged over 35.

Regionally, Yorkshire's workers are the UK's most likely to be unhappy in their job due to poor communication, with 41% believing that they would be more content in their roles if communication was better. Workers in the East of England were the happiest with 50% saying they thought that workplace communication was good in their organisation. 

Emma Radcliffe, Founder of Herkess Marketing, which advises on strategy, marketing, and communication, commented on the findings:

“The fact that workers in the UK link their job satisfaction to better communication is an important finding. Staff who are unhappy are more likely to leave, causing disruption and additional recruitment expenses for the companies that employ them, making this a critical retention issue for businesses across the country.

“It’s clear that workers across the country feel out of the loop. Companies must stop assuming staff know everything they should. When employees feel informed and included, they are motivated to perform better, which is a powerful engine for business success.”