Three ways organisations can help navigate employees through the COVID-19 situation through effective and impactful communications.

1. E M P L O Y E E
E N G A G E M E N T I N
T H E E R A O F
C O V I D - 1 9
A short and practical guide on how organisations
can adapt their communications and engage their
employees during this ‘new normal’

2. 2
W E A R E I N A T I M E O F
U N P R E C E D E N T E D
C H A N G E A N D
O R G A N I S A T I O N S M U S T
A D A P T T H E W A Y T H E Y
E N G A G E W I T H T H E I R
E M P L O Y E E S

3. A L L O V E R T H E W O R L D
A N D A C R O S S I N D U S T R I E S ,
O R G A N I S A T I O N S A R E
M A N D A T I N G E M P L O Y E E S
T O W O R K F R O M H O M E .
This new work-from-home scenario brings about
unique challenges and will have an immediate
impact on the way teams and organisations do
business – but it can also present many
opportunities for new ways of communication,
engagement and knowledge sharing.
Majority (88%) of
organisations have
encouraged or required
employees to work from
home, regardless of
whether or not they show
coronavirus-related
symptoms*
3* according to a Gartner survey of 800 global HR professionals

4. T H R E E W A Y S O R G A N I S A T I O N S C A N
I M P R O V E T H E I R C O M M U N I C A T I O N S
Open
communications
& connections
02.
Bridge the
distance –
go social
01.
4
Leaders,
take the lead!
03.

5. ADOPT THE RIGHT
TECHNOLOGY
Picking the right technology that works
well for your team can improve
efficiency. From Skype for Business to
Microsoft Teams and Zoom, test out
different methods of remote
communication to determine the best
platform to connect and provide
employees with clear instructions on
how to get connected.
USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO BE
#ALONETOGETHER
When social distancing is the norm,
look to the collaborative interaction
of social media to engage with
employees and keep up team
morale. Exploring new channels and
styles is key. From weekly
conference calls, to WhatsApp group
chats and even virtual lunch
meetings or Friday drinks – now’s
the time to get creative!
B R I D G E T H E D I S T A N C E - G O S O C I A L
5
BLENDED
COMMUNICATIONS
Don’t assume everyone will embrace
new communication tools immediately.
Plan to deliver news, updates and
training programmes using a variety of
channels. Short updates via web chat
can capture attention for immediate
individual tasks, while instructions via
email works better for more intensive
collaborative work to ensure alignment
across the team.

6. HELP EMPLOYEES WORK
FROM HOME
For employees who are adjusting to a
work-from-home schedule, burnout can be
a real possibility. Without a commute to
close off the day, employees may struggle
with ending their work day in a way that
feels natural and satisfying.
Work with team members to help them set
an end point in their day in a way that is
both productive for the team and helps
team members avoid costly burnout.
BE TRANSPARENT
AND OPEN
Employees are your main stakeholders. In
these uncertain times, they want to keep
abreast of updates and developments,
especially when working remotely.
Put yourself in their shoes and ensure your
communication is open and authentic – let
them know how they are impacted, what they
need to do and who they can talk to.
Authenticity fosters productivity.
O P E N C O M M U N I C A T I O N S & C O N N E C T I O N S
6
MAINTAIN MEANINGFUL
HUMAN CONNECTIONS
Working remotely and being physically
alone has become a reality for many.
Teams with WFH policies need to find
ways to connect meaningfully with one
another for mental and emotional well-
being. Schedule one-on-one calls with
your teammates or drop them a text to
find out how they’re doing.

7. OVER-COMMUNICATE
Working from home might cause
employees to feel isolated from office
communications. During this period,
it’s safe to over-communicate.
Don’t assume employees know what
you are doing – provide ongoing
updates to employees around any
potential impacts and what the
company is proactively doing to
mitigate the risks.
BE A ROLE MODEL
Employees look to their leaders as role
models, especially when they’re unsure
of how to behave. People follow the
example of leaders they respect, so
leaders’ behavior must be consistent
with what they are communicating and
encouraging employees to do. Be the
first to embrace new policies such as
practicing social distancing or cutting
back on travel, and employees will be
more motivated to do the same.
L E A D E R S , T A K E T H E L E A D !
7
RESPOND TO FEEDBACK
Asking and listening to employees’
feedback during this crisis is important,
as it helps you understand what your
staff are going through. At the same
time, it’s imperative to respond to their
feedback thoughtfully and promptly. If
employees take the time to share
concerns, leaders need to respond.
Get back to them, show them what
you’re doing with their feedback and
how it informs the business.

8. S U M M A R Y
ADOPT THE RIGHT
TECHNOLOGY
USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO
BE #ALONETOGETHER
BLENDED
COMMUNICATIONS
TRANSPARENT AND
OPEN COMMUNICATIONS
HELP EMPLOYEES
WORK FROM HOME
MAINTAIN MEANINGFUL
HUMAN CONNECTIONS
BE A ROLE MODEL OVER-COMMUNICATE RESPOND TO FEEDBACK

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F R O M U S T O Y O U
For more information, contact us at hello.Singapore@mullenlowesalt.com or
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