Internet forums reveal what employees (really) think

How corporate communicators should respond to employees that talk about your company online

Employees don’t wait till their companies start believing in social media to create Internet forums. I recently did an analysis—and I learned a lot about what some Polish employees are thinking—really thinking.

Typically such discussions are very emotional, and sometimes it is easy to dismiss them as substantial. But if you look through the emotion, you can get quick and easy insights into employees’ minds—and sometimes you can identify areas where your organization’s communication should be improved.

What are employees saying on these forums, and how might employee communicators respond?

Some forum users write about their deep craving for a more effective workplace. They have good ideas about how things should be organized to make them motivated and to improve productivity, customer service—even communication itself.

“Too many people in a management center = bureaucracy and ineffective management = unreasonable costs = worse financial results = obstacle to raising salaries for us.”