Talk Straight During Uncertain Times

E. Carol Webster, Ph.D. 

Copyright ©  2009

Just when you think things couldn’t get worse in the job market, they get worse. Your employees are on edge and those who don’t cope as well as others are likely to show it in obvious ways these days. They all want to know what’s going to happen tomorrow – in particular, whether they’ll still have a job. They look to you for reassurance and comfort. But it does not serve them well for you to give a false sense of security.

If your company is struggling like so many others, be straight about this. Sure, your staff can see the layoffs. They know that supplies have been cut to the bone. But denial is a hearty psychological defense and enables many to calm their worry by concluding that it won’t happen to them. Hearing from you the reality that more cutbacks are probably coming, that you have no way of knowing how long even you will have a job, will help to break through some of that denial. The point is not to bludgeon your employees and make them depressed, but to nudge them to make fall-back plans so that they don’t suffer as deeply if they are the next to go.

Planning ahead is the best coping strategy for your staff during uncertain times, so do all you can to help them. This is a good time for brown bag lunch seminars about money management – while they still have some money to work with. It’s a good time for talk about effective stress management -- or, these days, fear management.  Talking openly about what they would do if their hours were cut back or if they were laid off encourages them to dust off their resume and to re-engage in professional associations and activities to do some networking “just in case”.

While, of course, you don’t want your best people to quit even though you can’t promise them security, it’s important to communicate that you care about them as individuals and do understand if getting a “safe” job elsewhere is in their best interests.  Though everyone knows that jobs are hard to find right now, some do prevail and leave you behind. Wish them well and invite them to keep in touch. Those who were your best workers may now become valuable allies and advocates of your company in the community or may assist you in other ways. Be happy for them.

Uncertain times require straight talk. People need to know exactly where they stand so that they can maintain as much order and control in their lives as possible. Do all you can to help them plan ahead.
 

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