How are companies handling internal communications in today’s economy? A survey to obtain insight into how the recession is impacting employee communications queried senior in-house internal communications experts and HR specialists from a wide range of businesses and locations in November/December 2009. Following are the results.*

• Of the businesses surveyed, 73% have been negatively affected by the recession in 2009 (v. 68% in 2008).

• Over half of respondents, 56%, said there is no change on employee communication spending, while 20% said they’ve increased spending, and 24% said they’ve decreased spending (for 2010).

— “Although there are no plans to increase communications budget…, communication is seen as a high priority that is crucial.”
— “Need to engage employees other than financially has gone up leadership agenda.”
— “Looking for cost effective methods to communicate and target audiences more.”

• An unprecedented number of respondents, 88%, are planning to change how they communicate to employees—a revolution!

• Less than a quarter expect budgets to decrease.

• A third of respondents plan to spend less on print (e.g., newsletters) in 2010.

• A third of respondents plan to spend less on events (e.g., conferences) in 2010.

• Seventy one percent said face-to-face spending (e.g., team meetings) will increase again in 2010.

• Seventy six percent of businesses are planning to increase online communication spending.

Summary of key findings:

• 26% to reduce spending on print.
• 30% to reduce spending on events.
• 71% to increase spending on face to face communications.
• 76% to increase online spending.

Tips on communication with employees include:

• Continue to communicate the company’s vision, strategy & progress
o Show that leadership has a long term plan
o Link short term actions to it (i.e., not knee jerk)
o Remind employees of their role in delivering it

• Ensure that regular face to face meetings continue to take place
o All scheduled team briefings and communication meetings should be maintained; avoid a vacuum or room for speculation

• Create additional opportunities to listen to employees
o Undertake informal “walkabouts,” focus groups and/or pulse surveys

• Ask employees for their ideas
o Seek ideas for things like maintaining engagement, winning new business or reducing costs

• Celebrate successes, however small
o Commemorate things such as keeping or winning business, receiving thanks from a customer, overcoming challenges, winning awards, passing exams, etc.

We think that these tips are valuable because they will help to promote a healthy and happy work environment, as well as encourage creativity and productivity. Do you have a workplace communications strategy to share? We’d love to hear about it. And we also welcome your comments on this survey!

*Based upon responses from 60 respondents.

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