In its latest survey on employer responses to the coronavirus pandemic, WorldatWork polled more than 1,500 total rewards and HR professionals across a range of industries, finding increased communication with employees is common. According to the survey, 67% of respondents are sending out communication related to the virus and its impact on their organizations every few days, if not daily. That level of information-sharing is vital considering the changes WorldatWork found employers are grappling with: About one-fourth have instituted layoffs, while nearly 40% have furloughed employees.
Increased communication with employees–whether formal or informal–can help workers, many of whom are dealing with added anxieties of working from home: The survey also found a 415% increase in the percentage of employees who are now working remotely, both part- and full-time.
“The need for human connection hasn’t diminished because of the pandemic; in fact, it has intensified,” says Scott Cawood, president and CEO of WorldatWork. “Frequent communication offers a unique opportunity for balance and assurance as organizations and their people work through an unprecedented time.”
