Forklift drivers, stockers, cleaners, warehouse workers, or machine operators obviously don’t spend their workday in a location where a corporate email or intranet message can easily reach them. Corporate communication is still often tailored to office workers. As a result, blue-collar employees can become isolated, missing out on important company or community updates. Their sense of exclusion grows, while engagement drops. Let’s see how you can reverse this trend and successfully involve non-desk teams in company communication.
Smartphones are in everyone’s pocket – that’s the key to reaching non-desk employees. Mobile-friendly internal communication platforms (like Blue Colibri) allow workers to catch up on company news or join discussions anytime – during a break, shift change, or even on the bus ride home. They no longer need a corporate email – a user-friendly, branded mobile app is all it takes. Choose a mobile-optimized platform, and you’ve already taken the most important step toward reaching your non-desk workforce.
The tool is checked, let's look at the format! Super-formal corporate language is very alienating and does not really match the typical needs of employees in terms of style. It is worth aiming for simple, easy-to-understand language on the internal platform, just as we communicate on social media platforms, for example. We all prefer and find it easier to connect with content that speaks to us in our own language.
The latter should be taken literally if there are foreign employees in the team. Make the content of the internal communication platform available in multiple languages so that you can successfully engage those whose native language is different from that of corporate communication.
It is also worth planning with visual formats, as they can make content more attractive and even easier to absorb. Internal communication can be enlivened with spectacular and even entertaining elements such as images, icons, and short videos. Non-desk employees will return to the company's mobile app again and again if they find messages there that are relevant, understandable, and interesting to them.
A shared communication channel should also give everyone a voice. Provide opportunities for non-desk colleagues to share ideas and feedback. Through polls, surveys, mood checks, or digital idea boxes, organizations can collect valuable insights. It’s also an easy way to decide on company event topics or community programs. This inclusivity strengthens belonging and boosts engagement.
While office staff often celebrate birthdays or anniversaries, non-desk colleagues are often excluded from such traditions. Internal communication can change this by highlighting personal and community topics as well.
Celebrate milestones, share fun challenges, or introduce new colleagues. With tools like Blue Colibri’s bulletin board, chat, or challenges, you can build personal connections and a stronger workplace community – even when face-to-face gatherings aren’t possible.
Frontline employees often receive less public recognition for their contributions – but every role adds value. Internal communication can spotlight their efforts through shoutouts, recognition posts, or notifications. Voting for “Employee of the Month” and using gamification can further strengthen engagement while celebrating outstanding performances.
Engaging non-desk workers isn’t only about reducing turnover. These colleagues may have fewer opportunities to showcase themselves but can add enormous value to company culture. Even small, targeted gestures can make a huge difference.
The Blue Colibri App doesn’t require a corporate email – frontline workers can join with a simple registration. Content can be segmented by role, shift, or even language. Employees can react instantly, join polls, and participate in automated campaigns – from onboarding to training to fun, community-driven content.
