| Although remote employees require the same basic management as do local employees, ensuring adequate communication with remote employees can be challenging for managers. Researchers have shown the relationship between communication satisfaction and job satisfaction, but little is known about the effect of communication frequency on communication satisfaction. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between the frequency of communication and communication satisfaction among remote biomedical engineers. A total of 246 participants recruited from throughout North America completed the Communication Satisfaction Questionnaire, a 7-point Likert-type scale administered through the Internet. Frequency of communication was examined in relationship to communication satisfaction with managers, with coworkers, and regarding performance feedback. Relationships with general communication satisfaction were positive and significant for males, r(208) = .66, p < .001, and females, r(34) = .53, p = .001. Relationships were also positive and significant for communication satisfaction with managers, r(244) = .49, p < .001, and with coworkers, r(244) = .52, p < .001, as well as in regard to performance feedback, r(244) = .44, p < .001. The results from this survey suggest that a higher frequency of communication predicts a higher communication satisfaction. Future research is needed to examine the role of frequent communication in other industries. Future studies are also needed to investigate same-gender and opposite-gender relationships between employees and managers. |
