Skip to main content
Contact Sales Support Careers
United States (English)
Americas
  • United States (English)
  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • Mexico (Español)
Europe, Middle East & Africa
  • United Kingdom (English)
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland (Deutsch)
  • Nederland (Nederlands)
  • Other EMEA Locations
Asia/Pacific
  • India (English)
  • Australia (English)
UKG logo UKG logo
Search
Get started Get started
    • Solutions
      Solutions by Need
      People icon
      Human Resources
      Payroll icon
      Payroll
      Talent icon
      Talent Management
      People connected icon
      HR Service Delivery
      Clock with Person
      Time & Attendance
      Calendar day icon
      Scheduling
      Document check shield icon
      Compliance
      Chart bar statistics icon
      Reporting and Analytics
      Product Suites
      UKG Pro

      A culture-driven HCM suite designed to support your enterprise organization's needs.

      UKG Ready

      All-in-one HR solution to help leaner teams focus on growth and making a difference for your people, every time.

      View all products
      Make your workplace shine brighter with UKG AI
      Learn more
      Learn more
      Reference Image

      Discover the generative AI that shines a light on your data to illuminate the best path forward on your journey to creating a great workplace.

    • Customer Experience
      The UKG Promise

      With over 70 years of expertise with BOTH people systems and systems of work, no one knows people and how they work better than UKG.

      Our Promise
      Customer Experience

      We think you’re pretty special when you’re a UKG Customer. That’s why we build products designed to inspire your people — and your organization — to grow and thrive.

      Partner for Life
      Implementation
      Support Experience
      UKG Community
      Working Smarter Café
      Customer Stories
      Belle Tire

      UKG Pro streamlines and automates administrative and HR tasks, so that field teams and managers can spend more time with customers, and coach, train, and listen to their people.

      Eventide Senior Living Communities

      Eventide Senior Living Communities uses UKG to drive employee engagement and streamline workforce management and HCM, including cutting PBJ reporting time by 99%.

      See all customer stories
      Collaborate, learn, and get support for your UKG solution!
      Visit UKG Community Visit UKG Community
    • Resources
      • Research & Insights
        Research & Insights
        • By Business Need
        • By Type
        See all
        Growth icon
        Human Capital Management
        People icon
        Human Resources
        People connected icon
        HR Service Delivery
        Payroll icon
        Payroll
        Talent icon
        Talent Management
        Chart tree people icon
        Workforce Management
        Clock with Person
        Time & Attendance
        Calendar day icon
        Scheduling
        Document check shield icon
        Compliance
        Chart bar statistics icon
        Reporting and Analytics
        Lightbulb icon
        Product Info
        Video player icon
        Product Tour
        Article featured icon
        Analyst Report
        Document icon
        White Paper
        Book icon
        eBook
        Organization icon
        Industry Brief
        Chart bar icon
        Infographic
        News people icon
        Article
        Video player icon
        Webinar Replay
        Interactive
      Research & Insights
      • By Business Need
      • By Type
      See all
      Growth icon
      Human Capital Management
      People icon
      Human Resources
      People connected icon
      HR Service Delivery
      Payroll icon
      Payroll
      Talent icon
      Talent Management
      Chart tree people icon
      Workforce Management
      Clock with Person
      Time & Attendance
      Calendar day icon
      Scheduling
      Document check shield icon
      Compliance
      Chart bar statistics icon
      Reporting and Analytics
      Lightbulb icon
      Product Info
      Video player icon
      Product Tour
      Article featured icon
      Analyst Report
      Document icon
      White Paper
      Book icon
      eBook
      Organization icon
      Industry Brief
      Chart bar icon
      Infographic
      News people icon
      Article
      Video player icon
      Webinar Replay
      Interactive
      Events
      Tradeshows
      Conferences
      Webinars
      See all events
      Blogs
      The People Purpose Blog

      Your source for the latest life-work trends and ideas from UKG experts and leaders. Stay informed and put people first in all you do.

      Workforce Institute

      Think tank that helps organizations drive performance by addressing HCM and workforce management issues.

      Workplace Resources
      Great Place To Work
      Pay Equity Resources
      Human Insights
      UKG Developer Hub
      UKG Named a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Cloud HCM Suites for 1,000+ Employee Enterprises for the Sixth Time
      Get The Report
      Get The Report
      Reference Image
      Gartner Magic Quadrant 2023 Image

      Get a comprehensive understanding of the human capital management (HCM) market to help you determine the solution that best fits your organization’s needs.

    • About Us
      About UKG

      Learn more about UKG and how our HR solutions inspire workforces and businesses around the world to drive people-focused results.

      About Us
      Why UKG
      UKG Leadership
      Newsroom
      Awards & Recognition
      UKG Ambassadors
      Culture
      Belonging, Equity, and Impact
      Our ESG Program
      Partners
      UKG Marketplace
      Analyst Reports
      Careers

      Look to your future. If you're interested in working for a company that truly invests in their people to create a culture of belonging and innovation, we want you on our team.

      Careers at UKG
      Early Career & Internships
      Benefits
      Life at UKG
      Featured Locations
      FAQs
      Experience awesome at work.
      Search jobs at UKG Search jobs at UKG
    Contact Sales Support Careers
    United States (English)
    Americas
    • United States (English)
    • Canada (English)
    • Canada (Français)
    • Mexico (Español)
    Europe, Middle East & Africa
    • United Kingdom (English)
    • France (Français)
    • Deutschland (Deutsch)
    • Nederland (Nederlands)
    • Other EMEA Locations
    Asia/Pacific
    • India (English)
    • Australia (English)
    Search Get started Get started
    Employee Experience

    Communicating with Your Multigenerational Manufacturing Workforce

    January 12, 2021
    Manufacturer with Tablet
    • Share
    See all blog stories See all blog stories
    Stay up to date with The People Purpose Blog
    Subscribe via email Subscribe via email
    Subscribe via RSS

    Written By

    Spencer Madden
    Spencer Madden
    Industry Marketing Specialist

    Spencer Madden is an industry marketing specialist at UKG focused on exploring trends and developing content for the manufacturing industry. In his role, Spencer works with the Kronos sales team and manufacturing customers to share relevant and timely insights.

    Topics

    Manufacturing Manufacturing Multigenerational Workforce Multigenerational Workforce Employee Engagement Employee Engagement

    As if running a manufacturing organization wasn’t already challenging enough, we are at a rare time in the industry where the workforce consists of 5 different generations. Each of these generations have unique criteria that motivates them to do their best work and why they choose to stay with an organization. From preferred forms of compensation, to work life balance and manager recognition preferences, no two groups are exactly alike. That’s why it’s critical for employers to understand these characteristics to ensure they are creating an employee experience that is exceptional for each age demographic. 

    Multigenerational workforce differences 

    One of the key differences when it comes to the multigenerational workforce is their communication preferences, especially now that there are so many different mediums to choose from. For example, most millennials avoid phone calls at all costs and prefer email or texting, while the older generations typically prefer face to face interactions. When it comes to Gen Z, appropriately nick-named iGen, the large majority would rather a quick video recording or video chat versus a long email they need to read. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Gen Z comprises roughly 11% of all production employees and that number is growing every year, representing a significant portion of the workforce.  Manufacturers must take this into consideration when deciding on appropriate communication methods as legacy communication styles simply won’t cut it with this group. 

    While generational characteristics may be a potential reference point for organizations to base their decisions on, you will always have employees that don’t align to the typical attributes of their respective generations. To combat this, some industry consultants recommend grouping employees by their attitudes and values rather than generational demographics, however this can be a difficult and time-consuming exercise.  Add to this the complexity of the manufacturing workforce comprised primarily of hourly workers spread out across multiple locations who may not even have corporate email addresses. 

    Manufacturing organizations need a robust strategy to effectively communicate with their entire workforce. How can they create this? The answer is to let their employees shape the communication strategy for themselves. 

    Leveraging technology to diversify communication channels

    When relevant information needs to be quickly shared with the frontline manufacturing workforce, many organizations still rely on bulletin boards or in person meetings. In the past this may have been the best option, but not always the most efficient—especially  given the new operational procedures adopted as a result of COVID-19. This is why leading technology vendors are enabling mass one-way communication to be sent to a configurable group of employees to quickly broadcast important messages via text message, email, or phone, depending on employee preferences. This same type of functionality can be used to notify workers if an open shift becomes available, allowing manufacturers to minimize the impact of unplanned absence while letting employees pick up shifts in a way that is most conducive to their everyday life. 

    To take it a step further, some companies are completely integrating their communication strategies and other workforce management technology into one digital workplace platform. This enables teams to easily communicate with each other, allows for company-wide news to be shared through various communication channels (including video clips), and can even incorporate employee work schedules into the platform. 

    By deploying multiple communication options, manufacturers can gain a competitive advantage when recruiting the next generation workforce. They can do this all while maintaining familiar communication channels for existing employees to achieve a best-of-both-worlds outcome.   

    More than just a communication strategy 

    When considering the best approach for communicating with the workforce, it becomes more than just a tactical decision. Having consistent forms of communication in place helps to build a foundation of trust in the employer/employee relationship, which is especially impactful during times like we have experienced over the past year. 

    Organizations can no longer rely on outdated practices to keep their frontline employees engaged and productive. Manufacturers must adapt their communication strategies to meet the needs of their evolving and diverse workforce. By making communication more consumable, it will pay dividends by helping to create a positive work experience and lead to higher levels of employee engagement for team members in all stages of their careers. 

    • The People Purpose Blog
    • Communicating with Your Multigenerational Manufacturing Workforce

    Related Stories

    culture of trust
    The People Purpose Blog

    How a Culture of Trust Can Make a Company a Great Place to Work

    The key ingredient to building a great workplace for all? Trust. Here’s how leaders can foster trust that leads to improved performance and productivity. 

    Trust in the workplace
    The People Purpose Blog

    How Can You Improve Your Company’s Culture? Focus on Trust

    Trust is a global language. Learn how openness, fairness, and genuine understanding are key to improving your company culture.  

    Transparent leader
    The People Purpose Blog

    How to Be a Transparent Leader (With Examples)

    Transparent leadership starts with trust. Learn six ways to be a more transparent leader. 

    UKG logo

    Footer menu

    • Human Capital Management
      • Human Resources
      • Payroll
      • Talent
      • Reporting and Analytics
    • Workforce Management
      • Time & Attendance
      • Scheduling
      • Compliance
    • Product Suites
      • UKG Pro
      • UKG Ready
    • Customer Experience
      • Implementation
      • Support Experience
      • UKG Community
      • Customer Stories
    • About Us
      • Why UKG
      • Culture
      • Our ESG Program
      • Leadership
      • Newsroom
      • Careers
      • Privacy and Security

    Sub Footer

    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Accessibility
    • Cookie Choices
    • Cookie Notice
    • Terms of Use
    • Trademarks
    • CCPA Notice
    • Licenses
    • Privacy Notice
    © 2023 UKG Inc. All rights reserved.

    Kronos SaaShr, Inc., a UKG Company (NMLS ID#1698726) provides money transmission services on behalf of UKG Inc. customers and in connection with certain UKG products.