Employee Communication

Introduction

There is "two-way communication" provided by employee communication processes and systems. They make it possible for businesses to educate staff about topics that interest them. By giving employees a voice, they facilitate upward communication with each other.
Separating communication from the dialogue is important. In contrast to consultation, which goes beyond this and entails managers actively seeking and taking into account employee opinions before making a decision, communication focuses on exchanging information and ideas inside an organization.

The importance of employee communications

Ø Employees must be informed of any proposed changes to the terms and conditions of employment, HR procedures such as contingent compensation, working practices, technologies, products, and services, or organization (including mergers and acquisitions). People frequently resist change simply because they do not understand what it is or what it means for them. 

Ø  Employee commitment to the organization will be increased if they are aware of its goals and how they affect them personally.

Ø Since businesses take the time to explain their actions and justifications, effective communication fosters trust.

 However, it must be noted that these three advantages of effective communication can only be fully attained if employees are given a voice and the chance to remark on and react to the information they get from management. 

What should be communicated?

Employees require communication from management and individual supervisors regarding,

Ø  Terms with conditions of employment

Ø  What are they expected to do?

Ø  Learning and development opportu­nities

Ø  The Policies and performance of the organization and any pro­posed changes to conditions of employment

Ø  Working arrangements and requirements, or the structure and policies of the organization.

Ø  The objectives

Ø   The Strategies

 

Employees must be given a chance to share their opinions and responses with higher-ups about what is being proposed to happen or what is really happening in areas that touch them. For example,

• ·         Pay and other terms of employment
• ·         Learning and development programs
• ·         Working conditions
• ·         Work-life balance
• ·         Equal opportunity
• ·         Health and safety
• ·          Job security

 Approach to communication

Communication must be brief, clear, and simple to understand to be effective. Information should be delivered consistently, on time, and as relevantly as feasible. Management must demonstrate empathy by taking into account the worries of the workforce as well as what they want and need to hear. In the message, potential responses to the suggested modifications should be evaluated and anticipated. Employers' needs for information and any perceived information gaps can be discovered through attitude surveys.

A combination of verbal and textual communication should be used wisely, employing some of the strategies listed below.

 Individual face-to-face communication

Although it is the most popular mode of communication, this one can also be the most problematic. The managers or team leaders engaged and their competence and dedication to executing it properly have a significant impact on the information's quality, accuracy, and acceptance. While individual contact is unavoidable and essential, it shouldn't be depended upon exclusively when the problem at hand is crucial.

Team briefing

Team briefing involves every employee in a company, level by level, in face-to-face meetings to present, receive, and debate information to overcome the restricted opportunities for communication through individuals or even joint consultative committees.

Consultative committees

Committees are not always effective, but joint consultation offers an avenue for two-way dialogue. The challenge of spreading knowledge within the company still exists, and their talks can be limited to somewhat unimportant topics. On notice boards or by other means, it is preferable to highlight important topics.

Notice boards

Although notice boards are the most visible and well-known method of communication, they are also the most likely to get clogged with useless material. Controlling what appears on boards is essential, as it is ensuring that outdated or unapproved notifications are taken down.

Speak-up programs

Speak-up initiatives give employees a special way to voice concerns to top management about the company and its strategies and ambitions.

Intranet

In particular, in workplaces where all or most employees have computer access, organizations increasingly depend on an internal e-mail system (the intranet) to communicate information. The benefit of intranet communication is that it may reach a large audience quickly. It may also be used for two-way communication, inviting staff to answer polls or surveys.

Magazines

Glossy magazines or home diaries are obvious methods to tell employees about the company's accomplishments and activities. However, there is a chance that these publications may focus more on public relations than on topics that are actually important to workers.

Newsletters and bulletins

Compared to magazines, newsletters can appear more regularly and can tailor their content to address the problems of employees. They might be delivered with a home magazine, with the latter being primarily used for public relations purposes.

Employees who can't wait for the next newsletter release can get timely information through bulletins.

 References

ACAS (2005) Guide to Communications, ACAS, London

    

   Please share your valuable ideas in the comment section

Also, follow me on youtube

TV Channel U

 Email me

evonherath@gmail.com