Research: 1 in 5 Employees Miss Crucial Internal Information – What Does This Mean for Your Organization?

Research among 1,085 Dutch employees shows that internal communication falls short in many organizations. 21% of employees do not know what is going on within their own organization, and this can have far-reaching consequences. When essential information is missing, organizations become vulnerable on multiple fronts, ranging from lower productivity and engagement to operational risks. Many organizations underestimate the impact of this, while the consequences can be immediately felt in daily operations.

Overwhelmed by messages in the modern workplace

One major cause of this problem is the overload of messages. Nearly 1 in 3 (32%) employees indicate that they receive so many emails and messages from their organization that they cannot keep up with them all. In addition to email, there are countless other channels, such as WhatsApp groups or Slack messages. In an environment with an ever-growing number of communication channels, important information can easily be overlooked. However, with an omnichannel approach, organizations can ensure that updates actually reach all employees, preventing crucial information from being lost in the constant flow of messages.

Employees want to stay informed, but traditional channels fall short

The good news: employees are generally motivated to stay informed about what is happening within their organization. 71% of employees feel personally responsible for keeping up with news and important updates. In practice, however, this proves difficult, as traditional channels often do not align with today’s work habits. For example, 36% of employees do not check the intranet on a daily basis, causing a lot of important information to pass by unnoticed. This creates a paradox: employees want to stay informed, but the channels being used do not always match their daily routines. As a result, important messages fade into the background, with all the risks that entails.

Risks of lagging communication

Almost 1 in 3 (31%) employees believe that news is shared too late or too vaguely. Organizations often still rely on traditional means that do not fit modern mobile and hybrid work behaviors. This leads to risks: crucial information may not reach employees at the right moment, or may not be understood in the right way. For organizations, this means they cannot fully rely on the effectiveness of traditional communication channels and that a structural approach is needed to properly inform employees.

Internal communication that makes an impact

The research shows that internal communication must be active, targeted, and relevant. It is not enough to rely on the ability or willingness of employees to look up information themselves. Organizations must ensure that important updates are delivered directly, clearly, and in a way that aligns with employees’ work behavior. Only then can it be guaranteed that employees receive the information they need to work safely, effectively, and with engagement.