What are Deskless Employees?
Deskless employees refer to workers who do not have a fixed office or desk space within an organisation. They are typically on the move or stationed in varying locations, such as retail staff, healthcare workers, field service technicians, and many others who perform their jobs outside of a traditional office environment.
Why are Deskless Employees relevant to internal comms?
Deskless employees are crucial to internal communications strategies because they often represent the majority of the workforce in many sectors and are directly engaged with customers and front-line operations. Ensuring they are well-informed, engaged, and connected with the organisation's goals and updates is essential for maintaining operational efficiency and a cohesive company culture.
Examples of Deskless Employees in internal comms
This could include healthcare workers receiving updates via mobile health platforms, retail employees accessing scheduling and task management through in-store tablets or smartphones, and construction workers receiving safety and project updates through mobile apps.
Best practices for communicating with Deskless Employees
Leverage mobile-friendly communication platforms that deskless employees can access from anywhere.
Ensure communications are concise and relevant to their roles and immediate needs.
Provide opportunities for two-way communication, allowing deskless employees to share feedback and insights.
Common challenges in communicating with Deskless Employees
Overcoming connectivity and access issues in remote or varied locations.
Ensuring communications are timely and relevant, given the diverse environments and schedules of deskless workers.
Maintaining engagement and a sense of inclusion with the wider organisation.
What does effective communication mean for Deskless Employees?
For deskless employees, effective communication means receiving the necessary information to perform their roles efficiently, feeling connected to the organisation's goals and culture, and having the opportunity to contribute their insights and feedback, despite not being physically present in a traditional office setting.
Deskless Employees FAQs
How can technology improve communication with deskless employees?
Advanced mobile solutions and cloud-based platforms can provide real-time, accessible communication channels for deskless workers.
What role does leadership play in engaging deskless employees?
Leadership must prioritise and adapt their communication strategies to meet the unique needs of deskless employees, ensuring they are valued and recognised.
How can we ensure the security of communications with deskless employees?
Use secure, encrypted communication platforms and ensure all employees are trained on data protection best practices.
