In its 2005/2006 Communication ROI Study^TM, Watson Wyatt found that fewerthan half of companies with global operations said they are doing aneffective job with their global communication.

WASHINGTON, January 31, 2006 - By their own admission, few multinationals
are doing a good job when it comes to communicating with their employees
and business units around the world, according to research by Watson Wyatt
Worldwide, a global human capital consulting firm.

In its 2005/2006 Communication ROI Study^TM, Watson Wyatt found that fewer
than half of companies with global operations said they are doing an
effective job with their global communication.  According to the study,
only three out of 10 global companies have designated communication
resources in other countries, and even fewer (18 percent) have a formal,
documented global communication strategy.  About 60 percent of the 335
companies surveyed have global operations, and relatively few have taken
steps to communicate with their global workforce.

Communicating With Global Employees/Operations

Communication Initiative
 Percentage of Employers

Requires business unit or local manager to customize corporate messages
 31%

Designates communication resources in other countries
 30%

Shares best practices with global communication colleagues
 21%

Maintains global communication committee/advisory group
 20%

Establishes documented global communication strategy
 18%

"With more companies becoming global, the challenges of communicating
effectively with workers have become much more complex," said Robert
Wesselkamper, director of international consulting at Watson Wyatt.  "To be
truly global, employees throughout the world need to feel like they are
part of the company´s overall strategy.  Making sure all employees receive
the same information is crucial to that effort."

One of the study´s other key findings for global employers is that less
than 20 percent customize their corporate communication messages for
workers in other countries.  Instead, many companies rely on their local
managers to interpret and deliver messages, with little communication
training or support.

"One way for organizations to make sure their messages are heard in all
offices is to integrate the global communication programs into the
company´s overall communication strategy," said Kathryn Yates, global
director of communication consulting at Watson Wyatt.  "Companies may also
want to consider forming a global advisory group to identify and voice
local needs, customize the message and make sure local managers are up to
speed."

Copies of Watson Wyatt´s 2005/2006 Communication ROI Study, Effective
Communication: A Leading Indicator of Financial Performance, are available
at www.watsonwyatt.com.

About Watson Wyatt Worldwide

Watson Wyatt Worldwide (NYSE:WW) is a global human capital and financial
management consulting firm. The firm specializes in employee benefits,
human capital strategies, technology solutions, and insurance and financial
services and has 6,000 associates in 30 countries. The firm is located on
the Web at http://www.watsonwyatt.com/.

Contact

Ed Emerman, 609/452-5967, eemerman[at]eaglepr.com
Emily Rieger, 703/258-7634, emily.rieger[at]watsonwyatt.com