The Snitch

My colleague Adaline at Marketing Hong Kong recently attended a discussion in Best Practices in Layoff Communications where she met Paul Matalucci, president for Wordwright Communications, an employee communications consultancy firm.

During a downturn, Matalucci says companies usually focus on three communication channels -  investor relations, employee communications and corporate communications.

Thus, Matalucci says it is important that these communication channels are aligned so that the same messages are delivered to both internal and external audiences.

Furtheremore, there are just about a dozen different ways that employees can deliver the wrong message during a layoff, and offers some tips:

• Accelerate your communications planning process. Once decision [to axe employees] is confirmed, make your announcement as close to the decision as possible.
• Carefully plan your timing to the minute – to the hour.
• Repeat company strategy and vision and remind your audience internally and externally that there’s no change to the strategy of the company.