Let’s Face It: Your Employees Are Terrified

Your employees are terrified.

You may not want to hear it but it’s true.

It’s not without good reason, the vast majority of companies in the U.S. have retracted in some shape or form as a result of COVID-19. Postings on LinkedIn from beloved colleagues on how their positions have been impacted are becoming increasingly common in our feeds. This is real.

The truth is there’s not much you or any other organization can do about the situation. Everyone is in the same boat. What you can do, however, is demonstrate transparency and treat the people who work for you with dignity in your communications.

A lot of organizations feel compelled to lie or conceal the extent in which they intend to reduce headcount for fear if they don’t, employees will cease to be productive until their positions are eliminated. This is not a strategic approach by any stretch of the imagination, it’s actually as idiotic as it is draconian.

“Simply put, people are not going to stop doing their jobs if you clearly communicate to them that there is a possibility they will be let go in the coming weeks. They will stop doing their jobs if they can’t trust you when you tell them they won’t be.”

When the economic chips are down, the only currency anyone in the working world has is their word. Most people are not going to go back on their word to you on the fundamental premise of your contract with them: they work and you pay them. They will, however, kick into fight or flight mode and ensure their own self preservation if you as an employer have let uncertainty and doubt take root by not being clear or truthful in your dealings with them.

On the other hand, if you communicate with them clearly in a way that transcends the employer employee relationship, in a way that conveys “We are human just like you and don’t want to mislead you, things are bad. We are doing everything we can to minimize the impact to as few positions as possible,” they will give it their all until they can’t anymore for an employer who had enough respect to be honest with them about where things actually stood.

Simply put, people are not going to stop doing their jobs if you clearly communicate to them that there is a possibility they will be let go in the coming weeks. They will stop doing their jobs if they can’t trust you when you tell them they won’t be.

At JJS, we understand how delicate the subject is for your organization. We also understand the best way to maximize productivity is by building trust.

If you think your business could benefit from our help in framing the internal message to your employees in an honest way, contact us today.