Hourly workers are mobile workers

Our recently published Profile of the Hourly Worker revealed that hourly workers are not tied to a desk. They are primarily mobile – working on a production line, assisting retail or restaurant customers, or delivering packages.

When you’re at work, how are you most likely to receive communications from your employer? If you’re like 39% of hourly workers and your primary work environment is an office, you probably get an email, or maybe an instant message. Quick and easy right?

But think now, how do the other 61% of hourly workers receive real time communications?  They are on the manufacturing floor, checking out customers at the store, or serving a meal at a restaurant.

Hourly worker primary work environment

Despite them being the face of your organization, communication with hourly workers is complicated. The fact that they are not sitting at a desk means that they are often disconnected from a company’s standard means of communications: email.

And location presents another challenge. Most hourly workers are on site, but 15% of them aren’t even in a building . . . 12% are outside, 3% are in a car or truck. In addition, 30% say their job regularly requires them to spend time in a car or truck. 

where hourly workers work

There is only one way to communicate with hourly employees in real time: mobile.

Hourly workers need a real-time and efficient means of communications, and we believe that the best solution is connecting them through their mobile devices.

As we’ve illustrated in previous posts, 84 percent of hourly workers use smartphones. Mobile apps built for internal communications — ones that provide messaging and collaboration tools, file and document access and sharing features, schedule and shift functionalities, and the necessary safety, security, privacy and compliance standards — are perfect solutions for communicating with your hourly workforce and ensuring that no matter where they are, they are working with the most up to date information possible.

Profile of the Hourly Worker’s first report — Demographics, Devices and Disconnection — was released in November 2015. It is an independent survey conducted by Edison Research on behalf of Red e App to discover insights and details about the United States hourly workforce.

Try the employee communication and engagement platform your employees will love and use everyday.

Companies using Red e App create meaningful connection with their entire workforce, increasing efficiency, boosting productivity, improving employee retention, and driving profitability. Start a Free trial to see what it can do for you.

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