In large organizations, HR usually shares a close relationship with an internal communications (IC) department.
Only 35% of all responding organizations have an Internal Communications (IC) department, but most larger organizations do
The degree to which organizations have an internal communications department is closely tied to the size of the organization. Whereas only 35% of all respondents say their organizations have an IC department, 68% of large organizations do. In contrast, they are uncommon in midsized organizations (20% have them) and in small organizations of fewer than 100 employees (just 13%).
HR is most likely to be responsible for, or have considerable governance over, benefits communication, diversity and inclusion information, and culture-related communications
HR almost always is responsible for—or has considerable governance over—benefits communications (94%). For more than half of respondents, HR also has much influence over communications related to diversity and inclusion and to culture-related communications (55% and 52%, respectively). For all other types of communication, HR plays a leading role less than half of the time.
HR is much less likely to play a strong communications role in other areas such as online community management, corporate social responsibility communications, or digital transformation communications.
In 22% of organizations with an IC department, IC sits within HR
In some cases, IC sits within HR (22%) or is a support function for HR (10%). More commonly, IC is an independent department that HR collaborates with as needed (44%) and, in some cases, the relationship is described as being business partners (19%). The bottom line is that the two departments are often closely connected.
Almost half (48%) say HR collaborates with internal communications daily or weekly
Among organizations with an IC department, there is no consensus on how frequently HR and Internal Communications should collaborate. Comparable numbers collaborate weekly, monthly, and several times a year. It’s less common for HR and IC to collaborate daily.
Generally speaking though, about three-quarters say HR collaborates with IC at least monthly and often more often. HR departments that collaborate with internal communication only several times a year may do well to consider why other HR departments find it helpful to collaborate much more regularly.
