The Tribe Report 10. The Non-Desk Best Practices Issue | Page 5

Internal communicators in manufacturing, retail, hospitality,
healthcare and many other industries face the special challenge
of offline employees. Those workers who aren’t sitting in front
of a computer at work are probably not going to spend a ton of
time on the intranet. They’re also not likely to have a company
email address. So how do you reach them?
The tried-and-true channels that are the foundation of most
non-desk communication plans are cascading information
through managers, shared computers for non-desk employees
to access the intranet, printed posters and digital signage.
Beyond that, developing successful channels requires a deep
understanding of the realities of those non-desk jobs. It’s
very difficult to devise a successful communications strategy
for non-desk employees without getting out of the office
and seeing their work environments for yourself. Where are
they physically? Is it noisy? Are they outdoors? What do they
walk past on their way in from the parking lot or during the
workday? Where do they go during their breaks?
That firsthand knowledge can result in creative solutions
that could make all the difference. For past clients, Tribe
has proposed rearview mirror hangtags and printed floor
mats to announce a new program to delivery drivers. We’ve
recommended collateral and signage on the employee parking
shuttle bus and in the bus shelter for healthcare employees.
For retail employees, we’ve developed a weekly calendar
printed with values messaging that affixes to the cash register
counter. We’ve also suggested window clings on restroom
mirrors, floor decals leading employees to the location of an
event, and flyers awarding prizes hidden in boxes shipped from
the bake house to retail locations.
In terms of more univer ͅ