The past few months have caused immense change for businesses and their employees. A recent poll revealed that 88% of U.S. workers have been moderately to extremely stressed during the past 4-6 weeks, with more than two-thirds reporting these times are the most stressful in their career.
It’s not possible for you to control the pandemic, but it is possible for you to help ease the stress your employees are experiencing. In these uncertain times, it’s imperative that you clearly communicate your business plans as frequently as possible.
Here are some tips for effective employee communications:
- Be open with employees about management decisions and ask for suggestions to rectify problems.
- Provide as much information as possible about the pandemic.
- Communicate the future of the business with employees often – in meetings, on the company intranet site, in newsletters, and in blogs.
- Be empathetic in your communications, as every employee’s situation may be different.
Additionally, try to give as much notice as possible if your organization plans to make significant workplace changes, including shutting down operations or requiring employees to work from home.
