1. EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
Chapter Eleven

2. 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.

3. 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 organization’s mission and philosophy
Inspire an open environment that is interactive, promotes shared meaning, and encourages diverse viewpoints
Reinforce the organization’s ethical stance

4. Issues Facing Employees Today
Economy driven layoffs, corporate cuts,
technological changes, today’s labor market, business environment, corporate greed, and unethical actions which breed mistrust, and the current climate that no longer values longevity and loyalty.

5. Workforce Changes More Females Diverse workforce including
Immigrants and, for many, English is a second language
Younger workforce
Less well educated
Virtual workspace

6. Effective Communication is Needed!
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Honest Feedback
Recognition
A Voice
Encouragement

7. What do the Employees Want?

8. Employees want: Truthful information, especially in person
To know how they’re doing
Trust increases if management communicates early and frequently
Shares both good and bad news
Involve employees actively, seeking opinions and ideas

9. Well informed employees are the organization’s best goodwill ambassadors.

10. Benefits of Good Employee Communication:
Value-added credibility
Commitment is strengthened
Can increase morale
Increased understanding
Improves quality of relationships
Better informs

11. 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:

12. Strategic Communication Elements
1. Survey employees attitudes regularly
2. Be consistent
3. Personalize communications
4. Be candid
5. Be innovative

13. Employee Communication Tactics

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

15. Employee Communication Tactics contd.
Bulletin Boards
Suggestion Box/Town Hall Meetings
Internal Video
Face-to-Face Supervisory Meetings

16. Employee Communication Tactics contd.
Informal Communication Paths
Grapevine
Rumors

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

18. 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 production—I know where my copy is going, in the garbage!”
What would you do? How can this situation be improved?

19. 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

20. Examples of Employee Communications:

21. 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?