Remote working – after four months of Zoom calls, Teams chat and juggling home schooling, most of us are old hands at it now. Sharing lunch with the dog instead of our co-workers has become second nature and commuting nightmares feel like a thing of the past. For those of us who were furloughed, even working at all feels like a distant memory.

But now, many employers are talking about getting people back into the workplace. So how can they ease colleagues out of what has become their comfort zone? That’s where internal communication plays a vital role.

Keep the following points in mind to guide your post-lockdown internal comms:

You can’t over communicate

People will be nervous about venturing back to work. Use your online internal communication channels to keep everyone up to date on the process of making your workplace COVID safe and help them prepare for any changes that will be necessary for social distancing. Encourage people to share any questions and concerns then tackle them openly. Ask line managers to back up the company-wide comms with more personal one-to-ones and team chats to provide local information and reassurance.

Keep channels open for everyone

Many workplaces won’t be having everyone back in at once – some people may remain on furlough for a few weeks, continue to work from home or just be back in the workplace part time. Reflect this in your internal comms. For example, share stories of what it’s like back in the workplace to help reassure people about the new normal and make sure those who are still working from home feel a valued part of the conversation. And continue to provide updates and information to colleagues who are still on furlough, so they know they’ve not been forgotten about.

Be as open and honest as you can

It’s a worrying time for many businesses as we emerge from lockdown. Many employees will be worried too, about their jobs and future, especially if your business has already had to downsize or make big changes. Don’t be afraid to have grown up internal comms conversations about your company’s current situation, what the leadership is doing about it and how employees can support – and be supported – through this. 

Focus on mental health

Months in lockdown and ongoing fears about the pandemic and the economy will have taken its toll on many people’s mental health. Now’s a good time to acknowledge this, encourage people to look after their mental health and remind everyone of anything your organisation has in place to support employee wellbeing.

Celebrate success

Even with social distancing in place, it’s still possible to have some fun and celebrate milestones – whether it’s a new business win or simply Friday! You might not be able to share a cake or crowd into the local pub, but highlighting successes on your internal social media channels lets everyone get involved and feel part of the action.

How are you coping with post-lockdown internal comms? Need any help? Our team would love to hear from you.