A Pulse on Web 2.0 in the Workplace

Aon survey confirms that employers are slow to adopt the power of Web 2.0 communication channels in the workplace

TORONTO, April 5 /CNW/ - Aon Consulting Canada today issued results of a survey to explore how organizations are leveraging Web 2.0 technologies to communicate with employees.

With over 80 respondents, the survey found that employers are slow to adopt Web 2.0 platforms such as social networks, rich media outputs, and online collaboration tools. Even though there are hundreds of millions of Facebook users, organizations are not embracing this technology to communicate with employees. In fact, 71 per cent of organizations have restrictions on the use of the internet during working hours according to the survey.

Of the employers surveyed, only 31 per cent of respondents currently have an established social media policy. E-mail continues to be the most popular communication vehicle of choice (80 per cent) followed by the Internet (7 per cent), phone (7 per cent), intranet (5 per cent). While intranets rank as the most popular method of communicating HR and organizational information (58 per cent), this is followed by print at 18 per cent. Less than 4 per cent of the participants use Web 2.0 for pension and benefits communication.

Results also indicate that online news and television (35 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively) are the most popular ways of obtaining news not directly related to work. Social media networks like Facebook and Twitter are the next most popular (16 per cent), followed closely by printed newspapers (14 per cent). However, only a small percentage (12 per cent) of employers uses Facebook, Twitter or similar social networks to communicate with employees or recruit potential employees. Of equal interest is how LinkedIn (27 per cent), according to the survey, appears to be the social channel used more often than Facebook for recruiting purposes.

Aon notes that with today's diverse workforce, it is important that companies consider utilizing a range of media tools to address their employees' differing communication preferences, especially with younger, highly technology fluent Millennials comprising one-third of over 400 million Facebook users who are typically between the ages of 35 and 54.

"Web 2.0 provides an opportunity to dramatically accelerate the employee engagement process at all levels," notes Diane McElroy, senior vice president and Communications practice lead, "It's cost effective, collaborative and incites productive dialogue."

About Aon Consulting Canada

Aon Consulting is one of Canada's leading integrated human capital consulting and outsourcing firms. Our more than 800 Canadian professionals in 12 offices coast-to-coast offer benefits, talent management and rewards strategies and solutions to help clients attract, retain and develop world-class talent. Driven by inspired and independent thinking, Aon Consulting is committed to delivering innovative and personalized business solutions with tangible value to help clients shape their organization into the workplace of the future. For more information, visit http://aon.ca.

For further information: Media Contact: Autom Tagsa, [phone], [email protected]