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13 Jul 2020

How to communicate with employees who have worked throughout the coronavirus crisis

It’s difficult to believe that it’s been nearly four months since we went into a strict lockdown. Lots of places are beginning to return to a new type of normal – offices are filling up, coffee shops can serve you a takeaway, and the retail experience, while restricted, is once more a thing people can enjoy.

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Of course, millions of people were furloughed during this time, while others were forced into working remotely – and many remain in this position. For those who are still working, whether they’re returning to the workplace or working from home, you need to be clear and consistent in your messaging – it's still an uncertain time and workers need reassurance.

Here are a few ways to effectively communicate with the people in your organisation who worked throughout the crisis – and continue to do so now.

Be appreciative

People who carried on working over the last few months went above and beyond, in many cases. Some may have shouldered extra work after colleagues were furloughed, some may have faced difficult home situations. All did a great thing – they stared death in the face and got on with their jobs (okay, that’s a bit dramatic, but the point stands).

Go out of your way to make sure they know you appreciate their work. A personal chat, a thank you note, a small gift – these are things which will let people know that their hard work and effort was noticed, and that you’re truly grateful.

Don’t overcomplicate things

Have a central communication plan and stick to it. Make sure everyone is receiving the same messages, in the same way. This way, you don’t invite ambiguity – you don’t want anything to be open to interpretation. After all, mixed messaging is the death of efficiency. By keeping it simple, and making sure everyone is on the same page, you produce an environment where everyone can communicate effectively.

Remember the human

Every communication you make is going out to an audience of people. Even when you’re delivering difficult and complex news, try to remember that empathy and positivity are needed right now. Be honest and seek honest responses.

Being positive and kind will help those suffering some fear and anxiety about the current situation.

Get the tone right

This ties in to the point above. Remember, you’re communicating with people, so it’s best to ensure your tone of voice is more like a human than a press release. Polishing your communications to within an inch of their lives can be a good thing when they’re for public consumption, but when you’re trying to get potentially difficult to swallow information out to people who are anxious, it’s much better to speak like a human.

Drop the buzzwords, keep the Flesch reading ease score optimal, and write your communications in a familiar and friendly manner.

This article is provided by Health Assured.

In partnership with Health Assured

Health Assured is the UK and Ireland's most trusted health and wellbeing network.

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