In an earlier blog, we referenced a study that found that more than a third of quick service (frontline) workers in a fast-food chain never receive direct communication from corporate leadership. This lack of information can include everything from discussions on how to work with customers to menu and regulatory updates that everyone in the chain needs to be aware of.

Further, this lack of information from corporate headquarters makes more than half of these workers feel like they are just not on the same team. On one side of the restaurant are the frontline workers, and somewhere in the manager’s office, are the rest of the workers. This does not make for a good work environment nor does it bode well for customer satisfaction.

To ensure everyone is in the same club, so to speak, and everyone is kept up to date on pertinent issues, here are four steps corporate officers and managers can take:

Spend time with frontline workers. One of the best ways to ensure frontline workers—who, by the way, are the face of your brand when it comes to your customers—feel like they are on your team is to spend time with them, work with them directly, and talk to them. Improving communication with frontline workers requires face time.

Start a company magazine or newsletter. One of the best ways to communicate company culture and present the brand in the best light is through a company publication produced at the corporate level. Share stories about employees that exemplify the brand, have contributed to their local communities, and how the company has helped others as well. This “feel good” information makes frontline workers proud to work for the company.

Put up posters. One of the best ways to share corporate information with all staffers, including frontline workers, is to place posters and signs in the kitchen, on doors, walls, by time clocks, and other commonly used work areas. This is a low-tech approach to communication, but surprisingly effective.

Use technology. To bring high-tech communications to all franchise workers, including frontline workers, some franchises are now turning to kitchen automation systems. A perfect example of one is DayMark’s Gateway system. This system includes a cloud-based, secure command center used at the corporate level that works in conjunction with an app and conveys information about menus, recipes, training, and more to all staffers at the same time. The information is communicated using a very user-friendly Android tablet.

Face time, company publications, posters, and technology all help build engagement so that workers—especially frontline workers—feel that they are a vital part of the restaurant’s operation. This leads to greater job satisfaction, something that reflects on your brand and the way that customers view it.