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Benefits December 7, 2009
Companies Increasing Social Media Communications with Employees
December 7, 2009 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A majority of companies plan to increase their use of social media to communicate with employees in the coming year, according to a survey by Watson Wyatt.
Reported by Rebecca Moore
A press release said the Watson Wyatt 2009/2010
Communication ROI Study found almost two-thirds (65%) of companies plan to
increase their use of social media in 2010. Overall, 78% of global respondents
have increased their electronic communication in the last 24 months.
While interest is growing, many employers report common
hurdles to implementing social media. Among employers that did not expand their
use of social media, more than one-third (36%) cited the lack of information
technology support or inadequate technical capability, 40% reported limited
knowledge of the topic, and nearly half (45%) said they lack staff or
resources.
While nearly half (48%) of respondents have decreased
their print communication over the past 24 months, traditional methods of
communication are not out the door yet, as 55% of respondents have increased
face-to-face communication. The press release said traditional
communication channels remain the most popular for many of employers, with 73%
preferring to communicate changes to business performance via staff meeting,
43% saying financial education is best delivered through their intranet, and
58% and 48%, respectively, preferring to communicate changes to pay and job
security face-to-face.