Internal Communication

Will NBC’s Statement on Costas Inform Fox News’ Treatment of Shepard Smith?

November 15th, 2017 by

What should brands do when an employee says something controversial and headlines result? Is the consequence immediate suspension? Should there be a warning first? What about issuing a public warning that not only puts the employee on notice but serves to inform all other staff? The examples of Shepard Smith and Bob Costas bring these questions to light.

Week 3 of #MeToo: Spacey and Halperin’s Contrasting Apologies Get Added to the Stack

October 30th, 2017 by

Spacey was accused of a forceful sexual advance by actor Anthony Rapp, who was 14 at the time. Halperin was accused by 12 women of sexual assault and harassment during his tenure as political director at ABC News. Their statements differ in some very important ways.

What Do Two Pizzas, Blue Cars and a Dented Universe Have in Common? You Know If You’re an Innovator

October 30th, 2017 by

That idea you have, which everyone is calling crazy and couldn’t possibly work: well, it probably won’t work. But you should try it anyway. Such was the advice of Guy Kawasaki (pictured), venture capitalist and… Continued

Internal Comms: 7 Tactics for Crafting Internal Communications for a Global Audience

October 10th, 2017 by

Internal communications sometimes is relegated to the back burner when large corporate announcements are planned. That’s unfortunate, because employees should be told first when a significant change will touch their lives. Here’s how to edit internal communications for a global audience.

Is Your Top Exec Teachable—or Is He Like Harvey Weinstein?

October 6th, 2017 by

The Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment story underscores a question faced by many corporate communications and HR pros: What steps should be taken to prevent that kind of behavior among top executives? It starts with education and a culture of accountability, as well as instilling a reporting structure that ensures employees won’t fear retribution.

Ask Your Boss Anything: How Bloomberg Connects Its Global Staff

September 26th, 2017 by

How do you keep employees feeling like they’re part of the team when they’re spread out across nearly 200 offices in 73 countries? That was the internal communications issue in play for Bloomberg’s employee & communications team. Here’s how they solved it.

Toys ‘R’ Us Employee Messaging After Bankruptcy Filing Focuses on Holiday Smiles

September 19th, 2017 by

Toys ‘R’ Us announced late Monday that it has filed for bankruptcy, as the retail chain struggles under the weight of nearly $5 billion in debt. While its finances present an existential threat, an equally sizable challenge comes from within: how to keep its nearly 64,000 employees informed while also calming fears.

Is Integrated Communications the Holy Grail or Just Cheap Talk?

September 17th, 2017 by

Growing up, most of us were encouraged by our parents and teachers to play well in the sandbox, to share our toys and pay attention in class. Fast forward to now, and imagine your boss… Continued

pizza hut, florida, jacksonville

Pizza Hut’s Communications Team Gets a Taste of Irma’s Wrath

September 13th, 2017 by

Pizza Hut is facing heat on social media after an internal memo, posted at one of the chain’s Jacksonville, Florida locations before Hurricane Irma made landfall in the area, threatened to punish employees that evacuated more than 24 hours before the storm. But while social media’s ire is centered on the Jacksonville location’s apparent disregard for employee safety, one key phrase in the memo, the location’s “commitment to the community,” raises an important point.

5 Steps to Protect Brands From Employees’ Controversial Politics

September 12th, 2017 by

With employees taking stands on political issues and urging their companies to do the same, what contribution can communicators make to keeping a brand’s reputation unblemished by political turmoil? Our author provides 5 steps that communicators can take to put their company in a position to receive limited negative public attention, minimize business impact and reputation damage.