Internal Communication

Due to the Delta variant, companies are cancelling or delaying return-to-office plans. Managers are scrambling to revise schedules. Employees are disappointed, confused and frustrated. Many were looking forward to in-person interactions with colleagues. In the face of lingering uncertainty and frustration, HR and internal communication teams will have their work cut out for them. How and what they communicate will play a key role in motivating employees.

As it did during the outset of the pandemic, internal communication once again will take center stage as companies get set to re-open offices. An emphasis on the basics of good communication will rule the day.

You can look at recent surveys in at least two ways: 2020 was an anomaly, so any survey results are suspect, or let’s dive in and see if assumptions about PR’s role during an usual… Continued

PRNEWS Live on LinkedIn today (June 23, 2021) welcomed Bessie Kokalis Pescio, global head, internal communications for Philip Morris International. She discussed lessons learned during the pandemic and post-pandemic plans for the global company’s internal… Continued

How do we, as communicators, ensure our shadow reflects our company, our organization’s culture and our brand values, rather than the news, accurate or not, surrounding a crisis?

In this month’s issue, we ask crisis pros whether the AP averted a crisis over its handling of Emily Wilder’s firing

How does a large organization like Philip Morris International keep all internal stakeholders on the same page during a pandemic and in normal times? That’s some of what we asked PMI’s head of global internal communication Bessie Kokalis Pescio. In addition, we asked how internal communicators at small companies should approach their work.

While it’s unclear what comes next, it seems certain change is imminent. Moreover, building and maintaining a corporate culture, or, perhaps rebuilding one for the post-pandemic environment, will occupy a large majority of businesses and organizations. Among the tasks ahead for internal communicators will be gaining, or regaining, employee trust. In addition, motivating and engaging staff will occupy internal communicators. Of course, none of this will happen overnight. And leadership buy-in is critical.

A lack of transparency regarding the firing led 100 AP staffers to release an open letter regarding disapproval for the handling of the situation and an unclear social media policy.

The old version of the PR playbook urged companies to release statements saying they were apolitical, which hardly ever was true. Today, companies should consider encouraging employees to participate in politics.