Internal Employee Communication for COVID-19 Coronavirus

#Internal #communication is more critical than ever as companies navigate the #coronavirus outbreak. Many #employees are working from home, and companies have had to wrestle with how the unprecedented situation impacts productivity, leave, health safety, and workforce management. The anxiety surrounding #COVID19 is matched by employees' concerns about layoffs. The best way to reassure your team is through clear and frequent communication.

1. Look at what worked well after 9/11. Paul Argenti did a study of crisis communications in the aftermath of September 11th, and he found that certain steps were essential in #employeecommunications.

• Employees are reassured by hearing the voice of their leaders, so consider using video and audio.

• Offer a way for employees to express feedback.

• Stay focused on the work and doing it well.

• Offer employees opportunities to help each other and the community.

• Remind employees how they can receive help with physical and mental health issues.

2. Internal communications should include these elements:

• A message that your organization is making contingency plans to limit the disruption to business and is concerned about the wellbeing of its staff

• Information about precautionary measures that are being taken, such as restricting nonessential travel, canceling events or sanitizing common spaces.

• Unbiased, fact-based resources that employees can turn to for additional information like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website and World Health Organization

• A specific point of contact for questions.

• Updated policies and procedures, with an emphasis on business continuity, which will put people at ease and will demonstrate strong management.

• Customer or public messaging covering the solutions you are implementing in terms of continuity and safety.

3. Try these other ideas to communicate effectively with your employees:

• Post information in a highly visible place and use multiple forms of communication (phone, text, email)

• Describe decision-making strategies

• Don’t wait for all the answers to communicate

• Coach employees on what to say to people outside the company

• Create an internal web page with coronavirus updates/communications

• Cross train employees in case some are out due to illness

• Create a Q&A for employees and add to it as needed; consider making it public

• All communications should be informed by empathy