Insight

2020

How to Communicate: Now workforces are back on site

How to Communicate: Now workforces are back on site

Communication with your workforce is more important than ever. During these times, many businesses have had to deal with approaching all aspects of communication via digital means but now a lot of us are in the position to be bringing people back into the workplace.

As an employer, it is your job to ensure that your workforce along with visiting suppliers and clients fully understand the safety measures you have put in place. Our aim is to provide you with information on how to improve your internal and external communications so that your team have the confidence to work safely in these uncertain times.

 

Information booklets and leaflets can be vital tools for helping your workforce fully comprehend new safety procedures.

Our first suggestion is printed literature, an often-overlooked form of internal communication. It’s really easy to forget that your team is not already a captive audience; they are not immediately engaged just because they work for you! Most employees are looking for clear answers that instil a sense of trust in the workplace. This needs to be reflected in your choice of marketing material so they are easily able to consume your new guidelines.

Booklets and leaflets can be a great way to begin. More informative booklets can express detailed accounts about how your business will function, whilst hand-out leaflets can give a brief overview of what your team will need to expect to adhere to under these new circumstances. Keep in mind that booklets and leaflets can be taken home and studied, allowing your workforce time to process your new procedures and refer back to them if need be.

 

Achieve your core message by having them printed on posters and information boards.

Posters and signage can offer vital information that tells your team that the advice given needs to be followed closely. Perhaps you have a core message that you need everyone to understand. An example of this could be safety procedures that you want to enforce in the workplace like sanitation, one way systems or mental wellbeing guidelines.

Visually stimulate your workforce so they have confidence in you.

Creating visually stimulating animations or videos helps your team clearly understand why you are making the decisions you have. A study looking at Facebook engagement rates in 2019 suggests that video content is 59% more likely to engage its audience, meaning that a non-captive audience is far more likely to engage with video over written content. It’s quick to deliver and easy to consume so that your team can get back to work efficiently.

Video content can offer varied types of value. For example, a clearly illustrated animation can easily outline vital safety procedures. This could be demonstrations that show how to wash your hands or equipment properly, how far to stand from colleagues or what entrances and exits to use. To sum things up, animation can demonstrate points that are often difficult to explain verbally. Alternatively, a more personable approach could utilise a team leader being on video as their facial expressions and body language can help create trust between them and the team.

 

Plum can help you choose the right material to use for your internal communication.

We offer many different types of marketing materials, including the content discussed today. The team at Plum has already begun to assist many businesses back into the workplace by providing them with the right tools to communicate their safety procedures effectively.

To find out how Plum can help communicate your new safe working procedures, please call us on 01792 701937 or email us.