Effective Upward Communication The upward flow of communication is particularly
noteworthy because often the employees, the ones closest to the work, may have
vital information that top management should know. For instance, let’s take a situation
that occurs in HRM. We’ve recognized the ever-changing nature of this field. Legislation
at any level—federal, state, or local—may add new HRM requirements for the
organization. Unless top management is made aware of the implications of these
requirements, severe repercussions could occur. Thus, that information must filter up
in the company.
A similar point could easily be made for any part of an organization. And in keeping
with the spirit of employee empowerment,32 as employees are more involved in
making decisions that affect them, that information must be communicated up the
ladder. Furthermore, it’s important for top management to monitor the pulse of the
organization regarding how employees view working for the company. Whether that
information is obtained from walking around the premises, through formal employee
suggestions, or through employee satisfaction/morale surveys, such information is crucial.