EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

RECAP “I represent the college. That doesn’t mean I don’t have a different opinion.” 24 hour news cycle

EMPLOYEES AS A PUBLIC Executives Directors Senior Managers Managers First Line Supervisors Staff Line Employees Communication may differ to each of these sub- employee groups.

ACCORDING TO HUFFINGTON POST ” No matter what your product or service, your employees are the most powerful representation of your brand. Ultimately, employees are the marketers of your company as well as your brand ambassadors. And engaged employees are going to be your best advocates for acquiring and retaining customers.” Nagel, M. (2013, September 23). How are your employees affecting your brand? Retrieved February 14, 2014 from

TRUSTED COMMUNICATION Organizations interested in building a positive relationship with employees need to focus on five areas: 1. Respect- employees should be valued, not treated as an interchangeable piece.

TRUSTED COMMUNICATION 2. Honest Feedback- employees need to know where they stand and how they can improve, if necessary. 3. Recognition- employees should be recognized for their achievements.

TRUSTED COMMUNICATION 4. Voice- everyone wants their voices to be heard (social media, blogs, etc). 5. Encouragement- employees want encouragement, in addition to money and benefits, in order to feel motivated.

COMMON TRAITS Companies that rank on the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America list share common traits in employee engagement: 1.Willingness to express dissent. 2.Visibility and proximity of upper management. 3.Priority of internal to external communication. 4.Attention to clarity. 5.Friendly tone. 6.Sense of humor.

COMMUNICATION- PART OF THE CULTURE A dedication to management/employee communication needs to be part of the corporate culture.

WORST PLACES TO WORK

INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AUDITS  How do internal communications support the mission of the organization?  Do internal communications have management’s support?  Do internal communications justify the expense?  How responsive to employee needs and concerns are internal communications? Seitel, F. (2008). The practice of public relations. Prentice Hall: Boston

OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS Online Print publications Bulletin boards Suggestions box Town hall meetings Internal video Face-to-face communications

Have you experienced the negative side of employee relations? Have you experienced the positive side of employee relations? What fears do employees have?

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