Internal communications are a crucial part of your employer brand and a key to employee retention.  According to Gallup, companies with engaged employees have 59% lower employee turnover. 

A successful employer brand strategy starts with an internal communications audit. We recommend conducting one annually, at minimum. To begin, assemble key stakeholders from across the company and examine what communications you’re currently pushing out.  

Review all messaging for clarity, relevance and frequency of communications across all departments. Measure engagement metrics by analyzing open rates, click-throughs and participation in company events or forums. 

Internal Communication Examples: 

• Onboarding process – What resources and training opportunities are you currently providing to new employees? Have you considered a 30-60-90-day check in or assigning each new hire a mentor? 

• Employee policies/handbook – Are your materials accurate and up to date? Does each employee have the chance to review and ask questions?  

• Employee portal – Is this portal accessible, easy to navigate and providing useful information? Are there any content or features you could add? 

• Email communications – Are you communicating effectively across all departments? Would adjusting frequency be beneficial to your employees?  

• Company-wide announcements – What channels are you utilizing to push out important announcements? Is messaging informative and engaging? 

• Webinars – Are you providing relevant information in a format that’s easy for employees to consume? Are there now topics you could explore?  

Next, gather employee feedback (74% of employees feel they’re missing out on company information and news). This lack of communication can lead to disengagement and higher turnover rates. 

A simple internal focus group or survey can provide employee feedback on preferred frequency, channels and content type. It’s also important to audit two-way communications. How well are executives and managers communicating with their teams? Do employees feel heard and have opportunities to provide input? 

After you’ve conducted your audit and gathered stakeholder and employee feedback, it’s time to identify internal communication areas for improvement and implement changes. 

Make sure you’re utilizing various platforms and communication channels, such as email, intranet and messaging apps. Recognize that employees often need more information about certain company resources or training materials and that providing more regular employee shoutouts could help boost company morale. 

Your employer brand is a living, breathing thing. Continually invest in your communications with all employees to improve company morale and retention rates.  

Partner with Markstein to experience our award-winning workforce and employer branding solutions.