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HR Tech Outlook | Tuesday, March 08, 2022
Don't make the mistake of delaying the merger announcement to your employees for too long. The longer you wait, the more likely they will learn about it from someone else (which means someone else controls the narrative).
Fremont, CA: Mergers help businesses in growing, expanding, and becoming more profitable. They also enable organizations to gain additional customers and market share without building new business entities from the ground up. On the other hand, mergers bring with them a slew of unique challenges that must be navigated carefully to ensure seamless alignment. One of these challenges is communicating with current employees and establishing appropriate expectations about what to expect.
Make the Merger Official as Soon as Possible
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Don't make the mistake of delaying the merger announcement to your employees for too long. The longer you wait, the more likely they will learn about it from someone else (which means someone else controls the narrative).
It is preferable to announce the merger in person. But unfortunately, this isn't always possible in today's world of virtual businesses, remote working, and multiple locations. Another option is to make an internal live-streamed video announcement.
Employees must be able to hear your voice and see your face. While the announcement can be accompanied by a formal letter or email, written notifications lack inflection, tone, and body language.
Address Your Worries and Anxieties
A merger is based on strategic vision and dollars and cents from a management standpoint. However, from an employee's perspective, it is a highly emotional situation. There is disruption whenever there is a sudden change. This can result in crippling worries and anxiety. Employees will be asked questions such as:
What does this mean for my prospects at the company?
Will my daily routines be altered?
Will I be forced to relocate or move?
Do your best to address these concerns head-on before employees have a chance to gossip and spread false information.
Meet with Specific Employees
While it may not be possible to meet with everyone face to face, meeting with critical individuals one-on-one at some point during the merger process is a good idea. This allows you to answer questions and put your most talented employees at ease, increasing retention and lowering the likelihood of costly turnover.
Provide HR with Answers
After the merger is announced, your HR department is really in charge of communicating with employees and answering questions. So please make sure that you provide them with the necessary information and resources to collaborate with your employees successfully.
The worst thing that can happen is that your HR department is not adequately equipped. This makes them appear clueless, undermining the merger's integrity by making employees fearful and anxious. So instead, use human resources to liaise between management and employees.
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