Workplace Literacy – it’s not as high as you might think | Karen Payton, Bright Communications

Payton writes (emphasis added): 

All employees have a right to clearly understand the information they receive at work be that about workplace safety, employee benefits, or a memo from their supervisor. They need to understand information that is posted on a bulletin board, attached to their pay stub, and handed out at a team meeting. Frighteningly, almost 1/3 of low literacy workers can’t understand basic information and warnings on a hazardous material sheet. Frighteningly, almost 1/3 of low literacy workers can’t understand basic information and warnings on a hazardous material sheet.

So as a communicator how do you ensure everyone in your organization 'gets the message’?

Payton's blog provides some more data about illiteracy among workers and some useful tips to answer the concluding question above.


For more online resources about concise writing and plain language, check out these free websites of mine:

• Garbl's Concise Writing Guide
• Garbl's Plain English Writing Guide
• Garbl's Fat-Free Writing Links.