Effective Communication Positively Impacts Employee Motivation Levels, Employee Advocacy Latest Ouch Point Survey from Opinion Research Corporation Suggests

Business Wire, March 09, 2009

PRINCETON, N.J. -- With layoffs and other cost-cutting measures still on the rise, it is in an employer’s best interest to effectively communicate necessary changes with its workforce, suggests the latest Ouch Point® survey from Opinion Research Corporation, an infoGROUP company (NASDAQ: IUSA).

The study indicates that employees are two times as likely to go the extra mile for the organization and almost four times as likely to recommend their company if they are satisfied with the ways in which their company communicates difficult decisions. “Positive perceptions around company communications serve to both boost motivation levels among current employees as well as foster employee advocacy, ultimately resulting in a strengthened employee brand,” said Lisa Wojtkowiak of Opinion Research Corporation’s Employee Engagement Practice. “When the economic situation improves, this strong employee advocacy will be critical to attracting and retaining top talent.”

According to the study, 44 percent of respondents say their company has taken some form of action in response to the current economic situation, such as downsizing or other types of cutbacks, in the last six months. Almost half of respondents gave their employers high marks for the way in which they communicated the organizational actions taken (49% evaluated extremely/very well on actions taken). The kind of communication most likely to receive a positive response from employees included:

• Thorough explanations of the actions taken and the reasons behind the action (28%)
• Being kept informed of ongoing decisions and reasons for those decisions as the economy continues to toss and turn (13%)
• Providing early indications of impending difficult decisions so employees are not caught off-guard (11%)
• Open and honest communication (9%)
• Providing regular updates through frequent communication (8%)

Not surprisingly, these messages are provided through numerous channels such as meetings (19%), email (17%) and memos (7%).

“Corporate leadership teams now find themselves making difficult decisions on a daily and weekly basis to ensure their survival. Whether the news is positive or negative, taking a back to basics approach by communicating the message multiple times and through multiple channels, is essential,” Wojtkowiak continued.

On the flip side, negative employee sentiments regarding communication topped the list of the following employee Ouch Points:

• Poor communication from management (25%)
• Too many rules or policies (16%)
• No or limited advancement potential (13%)
• Not feeling valued (8%)
• Lack of training (7%)
• Unclear company strategy (5%)

About Opinion Research Corporation

Opinion Research Corporation, an infoGROUP company, is a full-service, global market research firm offering action-oriented advice and intelligence to clients worldwide in the areas of Customer Strategies, Corporate Branding and Reputation, Employee Engagement and Market Planning and Development. ORC is also a partner of CNN on the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, conducting national, speech reaction, state and flash/overnight polls for the most trusted name in news, since April 2006. To learn more, visit www.opinionresearch.com.

About The Ouch Point® Series

ORC’s Ouch Point® series examines the tolerance thresholds of Americans in common scenarios they face daily in both their professional and personal lives.

About infoGROUP

infoGROUP (www.infoGROUP.com) (NASDAQ: IUSA), founded in 1972, is the leading provider of business and consumer databases for sales leads & mailing lists, database marketing services, data processing services and sales and marketing solutions. Content is the essential ingredient in every marketing program, and infoGROUP has the most comprehensive data in the industry, and is the only company to own 12 proprietary databases under one roof. The infoGROUP database powers the directory services of the top Internet traffic-generating sites. Nearly 4 million customers use infoGROUP products and services to find new customers, grow their sales, and for other direct marketing, telemarketing, customer analysis and credit reference purposes. infoGROUP headquarters are located at 5711 S. 86th Circle, Omaha, NE 68127 and can be contacted at (402) 593-4500. To know more about Sales Leads, click www.infoGROUP.com.

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, recent changes in senior management, the successful integration of recent and future acquisitions, fluctuations in operating results, failure to successfully carry out our Internet strategy or to grow our Internet revenue, effects of leverage, changes in technology and increased competition. More information about potential factors that could affect the company's business and financial results is included in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.