No PCs? No Problem!

While electronic delivery may be the channel of choice for a number of employers, the fact remains that for many industries, such as retail, manufacturing, customer support, telemarketing and others, onsite computer access for employees is not readily available. So how do you keep employees connected when they don't sit at a computer? Here are some ideas to consider:

• Install kiosks: A common area, such as a lunchroom, is a perfect place for a kiosk that connects directly to your corporate intranet. Employees can perform self-service HR and benefits transactions or print out documents posted online.
  
• Display flat screen monitors: Like kiosks, flat screen monitors can be situated in high-traffic areas, to keep employees up-to-date about upcoming events (for example, Open Enrollment or onsite biometric screenings) or broadcast videos from senior leaders.
  
• Set up podcast stations: Podcast stations are convenient for conveying company-wide messages to remote locations.
  
• Develop communication toolkits: Unless you provide line managers with formal communications training — and reward them for being effective communicators — you're taking a risk by letting them convey corporate messages without benefit of tools and guidance. Provide slides, talking points and scripts to keep core messaging consistent, handouts that cover more detailed information and flyers/posters that can be posted on bulletin boards.
  
• Create customizable templates: Give local HR professionals (or whoever else has responsibility for site communication) newsletter/flyer templates "pre-loaded" with corporate news and information, with sections that are easily customizable for local messaging.
  
• Provide Flash videos: Provide sites with Flash-embedded presentations that can be played during team meetings. Subjects can include senior leaders addressing strategic issues or HR/benefits managers covering important health and welfare and/or retirement matters.
  
• Use displays: Table tents and acrylic brochure stands are great space-savers and are convenient vehicles for communicating both just-in-time and evergreen messages.

Keeping your workforce engaged can be a tall order in any work setting. But when your employees work in remote or field locations and/or PC-less environments, the challenges in keeping them informed and connected are even greater.

By considering both new school technology and old school tactics, you might find the right combination of tools to help keep your unplugged employees "plugged in" to your company's goals, objectives and priorities.