EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

Chapter Eleven

Employee Communication
The most valuable and important resource within an organization is its employees. Employees are not one large homogenous group but are made up of subgroups with different interests, wants, issues and concerns. In order to reach each subgroup, publics must be targeted and content related to specific needs, utilizing appropriate communication tools.

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Employee Communication Should Aim To:

 

Be continuous, respectful, and candid to all employees Be developed within a planned framework and encourage participation consistent with the organizations mission and philosophy Inspire an open environment that is interactive, promotes shared meaning, and encourages diverse viewpoints Reinforce the organizations ethical stance
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Issues Facing Employees Today



Economy driven layoffs, corporate cuts, technological changes, todays labor market, business environment, corporate greed, and unethical actions which breed mistrust, and the current climate that no longer values longevity and loyalty.

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Workforce Changes
More Females  Diverse workforce including


Immigrants and, for many, English is a second language

Younger workforce  Less well educated  Virtual workspace


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Effective Communication is Needed!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T  Honest Feedback  Recognition  A Voice  Encouragement


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Employees want:
Truthful information, especially in person  To know how theyre doing


Trust increases if management communicates early and frequently Shares both good and bad news Involve employees actively, seeking opinions and ideas

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Well informed employees are the organizations best goodwill ambassadors.

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Benefits of Good Employee Communication:

Value-added credibility  Commitment is strengthened  Can increase morale  Increased understanding  Improves quality of relationships  Better informs


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Employee Communication Strategies



Development of a plan to enhance credibility, candor, and trust must be the primary objective and should include the following five elements:

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Strategic Communication Elements

1.  2.  3.  4.  5.


Survey employees attitudes regularly Be consistent Personalize communications Be candid Be innovative

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Employee Communication Tactics

Formal Communication Paths Internal Communications Audits  Online Communications  Intranet  Print Publications  Desktop Publishing  Employee Annual Reports
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Employee Communication Tactics contd.

Bulletin Boards  Suggestion Box/Town Hall Meetings  Internal Video  Face-to-Face Supervisory Meetings


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Employee Communication Tactics contd.



Informal Communication Paths

Grapevine Rumors

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Question


Does more communication mean better communication with employees? Hint: More is not always better Why?

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Exercise
You are the are the assistant communication manager of your organization. While on break, you hear several employees complaining about the newsletter. "All they ever put in there are team bowling scores and a bunch of figures about productionI know where my copy is going, in the garbage! What would you do? How can this situation be improved?

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What Skills are Necessary to Work in Employee Relations?

Knowledge of Communication  Technology Skills  Writing and Speaking Skills  Interpersonal Skills  Understanding of Organizational Culture  How to format, edit, and work within deadlines

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Examples of Employee Communications:

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Question
What type of employee communications are you familiar with?  What do you think the intent of the publication and/or communication was?  In your estimation, was it successful?  Why?


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