30–40% of UK Workers Are Deskless: Here's What It Means for Your Business
While hybrid work dominates headlines, a quieter truth is shaping the UK workforce: 30–40% of UK workers are deskless.
Yet, most internal communication tools still assume an office-based user with daily access to a laptop. This oversight leads to real consequences: 84% of deskless workers say they don't get enough direct communication from management, and 47% rely on unofficial channels like WhatsApp to stay in the loop.
Let’s explore why improving team-wide communication could be the key to connecting your organisation.
What is a Deskless Worker?
A deskless worker is anyone whose job cannot be done from behind a desk. Unlike hybrid or remote employees, they rarely (if ever) use a computer for work. Think care assistants, warehouse teams, cleaners, builders, delivery drivers and maintenance staff.
Deskless workers make up over 70% of the UK’s labor force. That’s over 10.5 million employees - around one in three. Broaden that definition slightly, and the figure rises to two in five.
Despite the prominence of deskless workers, workplace tech continues to overlook the importance of communicating with non-desk employees. Countless communication tools require an email address, company device, or regular screen time - luxuries deskless teams often don’t have - leaving people disconnected and disengaged.
The Challenges Faced by Deskless Workers
When non-desk employees are excluded from internal communication:
- They miss out on company updates
- Feedback loops break down
- Culture becomes fragmented
- Engagement drops
- Turnover rises
Instead of centralised, secure tools, teams rely on unofficial WhatsApp groups, word-of-mouth, or paper-based systems. These workarounds might feel convenient, but they cause fragmented communication and create compliance risks.
Why Addressing Employee Communication Issues is Vital
The post-pandemic years have seen huge investment in workplace software, wellness tools and hybrid infrastructure. But these advances have largely benefited those with email accounts and screens.
Meanwhile, hiring challenges persist in frontline-heavy industries. Burnout, high turnover and staff shortages are top concerns. Empowering deskless staff with accessible communication tools is no longer optional. It’s essential.
72% of deskless workers would like their managers to supply better digital tools and apps to help them do their job better. And studies show that effective communication tools improve productivity by up to 25%. For deskless teams, closing that gap would make a measurable difference to individual and wider company success.
How Employers Can Respond to Fragmented Communication
Bridging the communication divide means organisations must prioritise internal communication tools and strategies that:
- Deliver updates directly to personal smartphones
- Remove the need for email or complex logins
- Offer simple ways to give feedback or flag issues
- Enable real-time alerts and messaging
- Meet regulatory standards, including GDPR
Solutions that reflect how deskless teams actually work aren't just inclusive - they build trust, improve performance, and make sure no one is left out of the conversation.
Here’s how to keep deskless teams engaged.
Joyned: The Must-Have Communication Tool for Deskless Workers
Joyned is designed for the deskless worker’s reality. Built mobile-first and compliance-ready, it enables organisations to connect every employee - whether they’re on the shop floor, in a warehouse, or visiting patients on the ward.
With Joyned, teams can:
- Broadcast updates to specific roles or locations
- Share real-time announcements without needing a company email
- Give feedback and raise issues via accessible mobile features
- Comply with GDPR through secure, auditable messaging
Joyned is helping organisations just like yours build more connected, engaged, and resilient teams - whether they work at a desk or not.
Connect Your Deskless Teams with Joyned
By prioritising frontline communication, businesses can reduce turnover, improve morale, and reconnect their entire workforce - not just those at a desk.
Joyned is the mobile-first internal communication tool for deskless workers. Book a demo and see for yourself how Joyned can turn fragmented communication into real, lasting connection.
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