Senior-oriented workplaces have the most dedicated employees we know. Every day, at senior living homes, aging services companies, and senior healthcare providers, staff provide care and companionship for our aging relatives and friends, some of it life-sustaining.
Keeping these valued and trusted front-line workers fully informed about workplace issues—everything from benefits to COVID-related precautions—is critical to operations. But effective employee communication is important for many other reasons. In fact, it’s just as important as public-facing content like your website, social media and blogs. Whether it’s intranet content, a blog or a traditional print newsletter, effective employee communications support your brand in many ways, including:
Building trust. Open and timely communications demonstrate an organization’s commitment to a safe, open and welcoming workplace and culture. When employees know what’s going on—on topics like new hires and external news that affects the company—they don’t have to rely on the rumor mill.
Reinforcing company values and principles. Stories about employees can bring an organization’s values and principles to life—and are much more interesting to read than official statements! And employees who are living the values and principles will have a positive impact on customer service.
Encouraging engagement. Research has shown that employees who feel engaged are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. Communication should not just be timely and thorough. It should encourage interaction or feedback—which should then be followed up on.
Attracting new employees. By building trust, commitment to values and principles, and engagement, good employee communications show potential new hires that you are committed to a positive work environment.
A typical employee communication program covers topics such as company news, employee achievements, customer stories, and benefits enrollment. But it will also plan for the unexpected—events such as the COVID pandemic or natural disasters that may displace people or impact the workplace. Having a plan in place that anticipates these situations and their impact on management’s ability to communicate can be critical to business continuity.
At IlluminAge Communication Partners, our expertise includes employee communications strategies and tactics for both day-to-day operations and unexpected events. From blog articles to emails and crisis communications, we can help you plan and execute a communication plan that fits your size and needs.