This section asked WeHoME members to rate satisfaction, effectiveness, barriers and openness of communications within departments and between City employees, supervisors and management.
Satisfaction with Communications:
How satisfied are you with the overall effectiveness of communications within the City?
Only 28% of employees report being extremely or very satisfied with communications while working at the City. This combines 6% who are extremely satisfied and 22% who are very satisfied. It’s down slightly from 30% in 2018 and falls below the industry norm of 29% and the U.S. norm of 43%.
Next, 39% feel somewhat satisfied with communications this year, up from 32% in 2018. This exceeds the industry norm of 40% and the U.S. norm of 36%.
On dissatisfaction, 27% report being not very satisfied and 7% not at all satisfied in 2024, totaling 34%. This compares to 24% and 14% in 2018, respectively, totaling 38%. It’s higher than the industry norms of 20% and 10% and the U.S. norms of 16% and 6%.
Effectiveness of Communications:
How effective is communication: A) From City management to employees, B) From employees to City management, C) From your immediate supervisor to you, D) From you to your immediate supervisor, E) Within your department, F) From WeHoMe to its members and others at the City
Starting with communications from City management to employees: 22% of employees find them extremely or very effective in 2024 (4% extremely, 18% very). This is down from 53% in 2018 and falls below the industry norm of 61% and U.S. norm of 64%.
Turning to employee feedback, 22% rate communications from employees to City management as extremely or very effective (5% extremely, 17% very). This matches 22% in 2018 and is below the industry norm of 32% and U.S. norm of 39%.
Regarding supervisors, 65% feel communications from their immediate supervisor to them are extremely or very effective (32% extremely, 33% very). This is up from 53% in 2018 and exceeds the industry norm of 57% and U.S. norm of 58%.
Turning the focus around, 67% say communications from them to their immediate supervisor are extremely or very effective (31% extremely, 36% very). This is up from 61% in 2018, matching the industry norm of 60% and U.S. norm of 60%.
Looking at departments, 45% find communications within their department extremely or very effective (24% extremely, 21% very). This is up from 39% in 2018 and exceeds the industry norm of 23% and U.S. norm of 31%.
Finally, regarding WeHoMe, 62% rate communications from WeHoMe to its members and others at the City as extremely or very effective (15% extremely, 47% very). No data is available for 2018, industry norm, or U.S. norm (NIA).
Barriers to Communications:
Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding communications at the City: A) You can trust that the information you receive from your immediate supervisor is accurate, B) The information you receive from your immediate supervisor is clear and complete, C) Managerial and supervisory staff have the communication skills they need to effectively share information with those they supervise, D) You receive information from the City in ways that are convenient to you, E) Critical information is shared in a timely manner throughout the organization, F) This organization actively seeks/asks employees for their suggestions and ideas, G) It is easy to locate the information you need when you need it, H) When changes are announced, the reasoning behind the changes is shared with those who are affected by the changes, I) Ideas and suggestions get fair consideration, regardless of who makes them
Starting with supervisors, 74% of employees agree strongly (38%) or somewhat (36%) that they can trust the information they receive from their immediate supervisor is accurate. This is up from 65% in 2018 and exceeds the industry norm of 57% and the U.S. norm of 65%. Similarly, 71% agree strongly (34%) or somewhat (37%) that the information from their immediate supervisor is clear and complete. This is higher than 63% in 2018, surpassing the industry norm of 58% and the U.S. norm of 64%.
On communication skills, 55% agree strongly (23%) or somewhat (32%) that managerial and supervisory staff have the skills needed to share information effectively. This is up from 47% in 2018 and exceeds the industry norm of 45% and the U.S. norm of 56%.
Regarding convenience, 54% agree strongly (20%) or somewhat (34%) that they receive information from the City in convenient ways. This is slightly higher than 52% in 2018 but falls below the industry norm of 60% and the U.S. norm of 61%. For timeliness, 46% agree strongly (13%) or somewhat (33%) that critical information is shared promptly across the organization. This is up from 33% in 2018 but remains below the industry norm of 47% and the U.S. norm of 59%.
When it comes to suggestions, 30% agree strongly (11%) or somewhat (19%) that the organization actively seeks their ideas. This is slightly higher than 28% in 2018 but trails the industry norm of 41% and the U.S. norm of 51%. Turning to information access, 43% agree strongly (9%) or somewhat (34%) that it’s easy to locate the information they need. This is down from 46% in 2018 and falls below the industry norm of 49% and the U.S. norm of 52%.
Finally, 33% agree strongly (9%) or somewhat (24%) that the reasoning behind announced changes is shared with those affected. This is up from 26% in 2018 but remains below the industry norm of 34% and the U.S. norm of 49%.
Communications Evaluator – Importance vs. Performance
Do employees feel free to voice their opinions openly at work?
Almost one-third of employees are hesitant to voice their opinions: 35% strongly or somewhat believe they have the freedom to speak up, while most (91%) indicated that feeling free to express opinions at work was important.
