How to Manage Corporate Communication in Blue Collar Companies

Corporate communication is a fundamental pillar for any company, but in the case of blue collar companies, communication management can present certain specific challenges. Employees in blue collar organisations do not always have the same communication tools as those used by office workers. This makes maintaining efficient and consistent communication a more complex and difficult task.

Blue collar vs. white collar employees

Before we dive into corporate communication solutions, it is important to clarify what we mean when we talk about blue collar employees and how these differ from white collar employees. 

Blue collar workers are characterised by their jobs generally involving more “manual” tasks, i.e. those working in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, logistics and transport. On the other hand, white collar employees are those who perform administrative tasks in offices, often having greater access to digital and corporate communication tools.

The majority of employees working in blue collar companies neither sit in front of a computer nor have access to corporate email on a regular basis. This means that when it comes to internal communication, there are unique challenges to ensuring there is engagement across the entire workforce.

How does corporate communication impact business objectives?

Corporate communication plays a crucial role in achieving business goals in two important ways: by facilitating connection between teams and by promoting productivity. A McKinsey report found that well-connected teams can experience a 20-25% increase in productivity. 

In another study by the same McKinsey Institute, this time focusing on the future of remote work, it was found that employees who feel included in more detailed internal communication were almost five times more likely to report an increase in productivity. 

These findings are supported by The State of Business Communication in 2023 report, conducted by Harris Poll in partnership with Grammarly. According to the study, 72% of business leaders say that effective communication has increased the productivity of their teams and 52% of business knowledge workers agree. 

Furthermore, the same report claims that 60% of business leaders polled believe that good communication increases employee confidence, while 56% of workers believe it also increases their job satisfaction. 

This data shows that communication not only impacts productivity, but also improves team morale, engagement and even the general working environment. All of this contributes to a positive work climate that is aligned with the company’s objectives.

Key blue collar corporate communication challenges

Effective communication is essential in the world of blue collar companies, but it often comes up against complex challenges, including cultural and generational barriers, a lack of appropriate tools or not knowing how to use them. Communication barriers are not few and far between.

• Access to digital platforms

One of the biggest obstacles to efficient communication is that many blue collar employees do not have access to a corporate email or even a computer at work. This makes it difficult to disseminate information, be it changes in shifts or important company announcements.

• Lack of employee-company connection

Employees who do not have regular contact with their managers/employers may feel disengaged, which then affects their motivation and sense of belonging. Without good communication, it is difficult to keep employees aligned with corporate goals and values.

• Feedback issues

In many blue collar companies, the opportunities for employees to share their concerns or suggestions are limited. Communication tends to be one-way, which can create an environment where employees’ needs are not adequately heard and/or addressed.

• Poor network reception in work areas

Many blue collar employees work in locations where network coverage is limited or non-existent, such as in factories or construction sites or those working on the road (e.g. truck drivers). This makes it even more difficult to receive real-time information.

How to optimise corporate communication with Vip District

As we have already established, effective communication in companies is crucial for employee engagement and productivity. Vip Connect is a powerful business communication tool that helps to optimise interaction in the work environment. It provides a comprehensive 360º solution thanks to a module that is exclusively dedicated to internal communication.

Here’s how you can use Vip Connect to improve corporate communication.

• Reach your entire workforce

A mobile app version of the platform also exists, enabling easy communication with all employees: from those working in the office to those in the field, from truck drivers to cleaning staff. This ensures that information arrives instantly to your team member’s mobile phone, wherever they are. This is a key advantage in sectors such as logistics or security, where speed of communication is essential. 

Vip District’s App stands out as a high-quality app. It has over 100,000 downloads and a rating of 4.7 out of 5 on both the App Store and Google Play. 

• Strengthen engagement and reduce burnout

The Vip District tool not only facilitates communication within a company, but also helps to combat staff burnout and to strengthen employees’ sense of belonging. By allowing everyone to feel included and valued within the company, Vip Connect creates a healthier and more motivating work environment.

• Create and manage content easily

Vip Connect allows you to create surveys, mailboxes, courses and other content on one single platform. This simplifies activity management and provides an integrated, cohesive user experience. News and other updates can additionally be shared via push notifications, ensuring that information reaches everyone, no matter where they are.

• Give your employees a voice

The platform also provides an easy way for employees to express their opinions and make suggestions. Offering a variety of different tools, a channel can be set up for employees to communicate their thoughts, which is an essential part of building an organisational culture based on transparency and feedback.

• Provide learning resources and training in an instant

Vip Connect makes it easy to gather together and provide learning resources in a variety of formats, to create training and to organise lessons and tests. This ensures that employees have access to the ongoing training they need to develop their skills and thereby contribute to the success of the company.

• Connect with frontline employees

The tool makes it easy to connect with frontline employees in different sectors, making it an intranet that truly is accessible to all. This not only improves internal communication, but also gives employees the ability to access important information and resources at all times.

How Vip District improves communication in blue collar companies across industries

Internal communication is key to driving efficiency in blue collar companies. Vip District offers tools that transform the way information is shared and managed, ensuring that every employee stays connected.

Industrial and Security services sector

This sector is characterised by a high incidence of workplace accidents, often due to a lack of safety protocol knowledge or non-compliance. Communication is essential in the prevention of injuries in this sector.

• Protocol publication: Publishes and stores all information concerning safety at work. Contains materials in different formats, including video.
  
• Knowledge tests: Creates lessons and quizzes to assess the extent to which your team has assimilated new safety rules, regulations and concepts.
  
• Activities and workshops: Automatically manages training activities for which employees can automatically register, cancel their registration and even join the waiting list for limited space events. Fully automated communication and management. And simpler and easier management for HR departments.

Hospitality and Retail sector

Some of the retail sector’s needs include keeping up to date with new products and promotions, reinforcing training in Customer Service and understanding trends in the sector. Vip District’s communication tool will help you with:

• Learning and training courses and tests: With Vip Connect, colleagues can provide training for each other by creating and/or sharing manuals, training videos and knowledge tests. Promoting the company’s ‘gurus’ is an additional way to motivate and acknowledge the good work and knowledge of team members. 
  
• Staying on top of what’s new: Create a virtual library segmented by product,. Employees can therefore always stay up-to-date with trends and promotions via App notifications. Identify and establish a group of people who are authorised to publish and promote this information.
  
• Motivation: Share best practices by creating internal competitions, e.g. a photo challenge for a snap of the most creative shop window or the best organised shop. Vip Connect allows you to create dynamics between teams and shops, by enabling them to vote, comment and share highlights and features.
  
• Segmentation: As the same message is not always applicable to all staff, communication can be segmented to get the right message to the right audience. Create filtered content and communications for different groups according to location, area, country, etc.

Maintenance services sector

Lack of effective communication between operational workers in the field (cleaning, construction, repairs, etc.) and head office staff is a common problem in this sector.

• App and push notifications: Create and strengthen your staff’s sense of belonging by keeping them up-to-date with all the latest company news and developments. The Vip Connect App sends employees instant notifications, wherever they are.
  
• Access without corporate email: Not all employees have a corporate email, but this does not mean that they should be excluded from company communications. Vip Connect offers the flexibility of providing access via unique codes, meaning all of your workforce can be included.

Logistics and Transport sector

Peak demand at special times of the year, such as Christmas and the Back to School season, can lead to overwork and stress for employees, affecting their productivity and wellbeing. Internal communication plays an important role in avoiding or mitigating the possible effects of burnout.

• Workplace Wellness programmes: The activity manager enables you to create one-off or recurring activities. Using this tool, employees can sign up for, e.g., a yoga class, meditation session, massage and more. With Vip Connect, these activities are almost completely self-managed, so you don’t have to deal with reminders, registrations, cancellations or waiting lists.
  
• Communication channel: A suggestion, innovation or even request box can be set up for those on the front line, giving these employees a voice and allowing them to provide their point of view. This will help improve company processes and prevent situations that may lead to future burnout.
  
• Work climate surveys: Customised surveys can be created based on your needs. The feedback from your employees will then help you gauge your staff’s morale and, in this way, reinforce any positive aspects and correct any negative tendencies observed.

Optimising communication in blue collar companies is more than a necessity: it is a key, fundamental strategy in strengthening your team’s productivity, motivation and sense of belonging. With the right technology, companies can overcome traditional communication barriers and ensure that every employee feels heard and valued, no matter where they are. In addition, it is an important tool in increasing the efficiency of your HR and Internal Communications teams.