Effective Communication in the WorkplaceThe workplace is an environment in which more and more Americans spend a significant portion of their time. In fact, 25 million workers reported spending at least 49 hours per week at work (Schabner, 2013). This means that it is becoming increasingly important to have effective communication in the workplace. Not just to improve business practices, but to improve the quality of employer AND employee satisfaction. Effective interpersonal communication is the most important aspect in determining the success of workplace practices. Effective interpersonal communication includes practices such as honesty, clarity, and mutual respect. Honesty is absolutely necessary to foster healthy and functional work environments. Honesty breeds transparency, and according to a 2013 study, management transparency is THE number one factor in determining long-term employee happiness (Shannon, 2013). Honesty between employers and employees about workplace expectations is essential to fostering effective relationships. Full transparency in the workplace also creates loyalty between employers and employees. The reason is that employees have a stake in the company's performance. So, when they are entrusted with information, it creates a feeling of loyalty that strengthens the relationships between everyone in the company. This is why some people advocate mandatory disclosure sessions, in order to strengthen the bonds between employers and employees (Estklund, 2011). Clarity is the second important aspect of effective communication in the workplace because clarity promotes understanding, and if everyone in the workplace has a clear understanding of each other, communication problems occur. many...... middle of paper ....... 2014. Web. April 21, 2014. .Schabner, dean. “Americans work harder than anyone else.” ABC News. ABC News Network, May 1, 2013. Web. April 20, 2014. .Shannon, BJ “New Research Reveals 7 Trends Disrupting Today's Workplace.” » -- SEATTLE, December 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ --. PRnewswire, December 11, 2013. Web. April 20, 2014. Sias, Patricia M., Hannah Pedersen, Erin B. Gallagher, and Irina Kopaneva. “Workplace Friendship in an Electronically Connected Organization.” Human Communication Research 38.3 (2012): 253-79. Print.Suler, John. “The online disinhibition effect.” CyberPsychology and Behavior 7.3 (2004): 321-26. Print.