Speaking Of Nations: Workplace Communications Vary By Nationality
Figure 5: Results for India
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Brazil, better talk in person first: Brazilians are less likely to use their company intranets than their counterparts in other nations. Employees’ preferred method of workplace communications varies somewhat by age, and a lot by nationality. Brazilians prefer in-person and email communications for most workplace issues. In China, India and the United Kingdom, the company intranet rules. Canadians and Americans are mixed in their communications preferences. Age begins to take effect when employees are asked about their relationship with their employers. In China, younger workers are 50% more likely than older workers to see their opinions as being valued. Younger Indian workers are more optimistic about their employers’ leadership and younger Canadian and British workers are much more positive about their employers’ ethics, managerial skills and openness. Bottom line: Communication managers can expect younger workers overall to be more positive in their workplace outlook, and all employees to be regional in their communications preferences.
Figure 3: Results for Brazil Percentage Strongly agree/Agree Employer fulfills its social responsibilities
78% 72%
Person I report to is a good manager
Main preferences for communication channels Benefits
70% 56%
Organization maintains high ethical standards
Younger
64%
Older
42%
Values my opinion, encourages open discussion
54% 52%
Trust leaders to consider employees best interests
Co. Goals
e
66% 62%
Takes full advantage of skills of my generation
Super visor
e
Team Update
Inter act
e e
Ages 20-26 (n=50)
Events
Biz News
e e e
Ages 50-59 (n=50)
Values my opinion, encourages open discussion Organization maintains high ethical standards
64%
Trust leaders to consider employees best interests
Employer fulfills its social responsibilities Organization maintains high ethical standards
76% 70%
Person I report to is a good manager
74% 70%
Trust leaders to consider employees best interests
72%
44%
Benefits Younger
62% 56% 58% 56%
Older
Co. Goals
Co. Goals
Events
Biz News
Team Update
e e e
e
e
Ages 20-26 (n=50)
Inter act
Ages 50-59 (n=50)
Result for Ages 20-26 is significantly higher than for Ages 50-59.
76%
Events
Biz News
Team Update
e
e
Inter act
e
Values my opinion, encourages open discussion
Benefits
74% 52%
Younger 64%
50% Older
62% 38%
Super visor
Co. Goals
Events
Biz News
e e
e
56%
Takes full advantage of skills of my generation Trust leaders to consider employees best interests
Main preferences for communication channels
52%
Team Update
Inter act
e
46% Ages 20-26 (n=50)
56% 30%
Ages 50-59 (n=50)
Result for Ages 20-26 is significantly higher than for Ages 50-59.
58% 50% 42% 44%
Ages 20-26 (n=50)
Ages 50-59 (n=50)
Result for Ages 20-26 is significantly higher than for Ages 50-59.
Legend:
3
Super visor
Older
52%
Organization maintains high ethical standards
Main preferences for communication channels Super visor
Younger
78% 66%
Person I report to is a good manager
Percentage Strongly agree/Agree
Person I report to is a good manager
70%
Employer fulfills its social responsibilities
64% 60%
Benefits
80%
Percentage Strongly agree/Agree
Figure 4: Results for China
Takes full advantage of skills of my generation
Values my opinion, encourages open discussion
Figure 6: Results for Canada
Result for Ages 20-26 is significantly higher than for Ages 50-59.
Employer fulfills its social responsibilities
Main preferences for communication channels
80% 70%
Tech-savvy workers of any age place a higher importance on communications in the workplace than their peers who use technology infrequently.
44% 36%
Percentage Strongly agree/Agree Takes full advantage of skills of my generation
in person
e
intranet
4