Millions of job cuts have torn through the U.S. economy since March. Your employees want to go back to work for you, you want them back, but it’s just not the right time. How do you preserve your relationship with your employees during this awkward time where they don’t work for you? How can you guarantee you don’t lose your best workers? Through constant communication.
When small businesses are successful at maintaining contact with the employees they had to layoff; getting the business back up and running will be like turning on a switch. Compare that to companies that will have to hire all new staff and need weeks if not months to onboard every new employee. Former Federal Reserve Chair, Janet Yellen, cautions that “if firms severe their connections to their workers, a quick recovery would be unlikely.”
Keep Your Employees Updated
The shutdown happened quickly, and people were scared and scattered. The layoffs were confusing, and many employees report being unsure whether they were laid off, fired, or if their job was just “paused.” And in the rush to process all the layoffs, many companies completely neglected follow-up communication to let former employees know what they could expect in the coming weeks or months.
By ensuring your employees hear from you at least once a week, you’ll be able to calm uncertainties, answer questions, and simply let them know you care enough to keep them up to speed. Update them with what is happening at the company and what they can expect. Be transparent, and let your former employees know both the good and the bad of each week. If you have the information, give your employees a timeline of when they can expect to be rehired. Staying in touch keeps everyone on the same page.
How To Stay In Touch
When most people think of mass communication, they think of email. It’s easy to write up a nice, detailed message and send it out in one click. This solution often does not apply to most blue-collar workers who do not check email as often as people who work at a computer all day. And more often than not, they don’t have a work email address for you to even send a message to!
So consider the format and channel of your regular communications carefully. We’ve noted a few of the more successful strategies we’ve seen in the past few months:
- Texting: Texting is the best option. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s noticed. Text message open rates are as high as 98%. If you can, get your employees’ cell phone numbers and send out an announcement to let them know you’ll be providing them with updates via text. This keeps the weekly updates simple and also less formal, creating a more personal engagement.
- Personal Emails: If someone isn’t comfortable giving you their cell phone number, the next best option is their email. Email offers an excellent format for including lots of details and links to other resources, but the challenge is making sure the recipient actually sees it. The average person receives over 100 emails a day, so competition for eyes is steep.
- Weekly Newsletters: Posting a weekly newsletter on your company site or social page is a great way to share lots of information in a graphically pleasing format. It’s also easy to create online newsletters with tools like Canva. The downside is it is also the least likely to be read since you’d be depending on your former employees to remember to visit your page. It also does not allow for a back-and-forth conversation if your employees have questions.
Whatever you choose, remember to be open, honest, and transparent about everything. Your employees have been with you, and they will help you out through the tough times.
Give Advice and Be Supportive
Your communication efforts don’t have to be strictly work-based. You can help your employees in more ways than just a job. Offer your support through these tough times, even if that means just having a normal chat. Support outside of work goes a long way, especially since small businesses can become your family.
If you know of any part-time or short-term job openings, notify your employees. They’re struggling right now just as you are. This doesn’t mean you’ll lose them; they will appreciate the help.
Constant communication will make your employees feel like family. They’ll feel appreciated and will be excited to come back to work.
Team Engine was built to help create that family, and now we are here to help keep it together. We make communication easy with text messages without needing to use your cell phone. Sign up for a demo and trial to give it a try yourself!