Silence Is Not Golden When the Economy is Crumbling

Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2008 by Frank Roche

You know how flight attendants and pilots never seem to shut up when the plane is on the ground or in clear air, but then as soon as there’s turbulence, nothing? Silence. You sit there in your seat, nervous and wondering what’s going on, and they don’t tell you a thing?

That’s what’s going on in a lot of businesses right now. Here’s a little communication hint: Silence is not golden when the economy is crumbling and people are scared. And here’s a little hint to employees: Your bosses are scared too.

So, it’s time for HR to step and be the calm in a storm. You know that your people can read. And what they’re reading right now is that there are lots of layoffs, unemployment is high and getting higher, the stock market is spinning like a whirligig, and their pay and benefits are affected. They’re sitting in their seats, nervous and wondering what’s going on. It’s time to tell them. ‘Silence is golden” is great for 3-year-olds. It doesn’t work for 30-year-olds.

User Comments

Ron Ulrici

Oct 23rd, 2008

Frank, I agree with you (and here comes the but…) – it is hard because you don't know what to say most of the time. You can't go seek people out and tell them that their jobs are okay and if you give any hint as to what the plans are, you might shake up the troops unnecessarily. I was somewhat successful by helping the management team inform everyone about the things that they were doing to minimize the problem and also ask for everyone's inputs and help.
Kristin Bolinske

Oct 30th, 2008

In SHRM's monthly magazine, this issue of information was addressed. Yes, it can be hard to share information in a scary time for everyone (the business, employees & their families, stakeholders, etc). If you want dedicated workers at your business, it doesn't come from a corporate culture that holds many secrets.

Organizations that dance around questions regarding their financial stability are not fooling anyone. Employees know when the business is not operating as usual, and no information leads to gossip and exaggerated rumors. By communicating the organizations current struggles and developing a sense of “we are all in this together” culture may foster increased employee dedication. By letting employees know where the business is failing and explaining corporate initiatives to turn the organization around may lead to increased support and acceptance towards organizational change. Communicating these messages may also reduce unwanted attrition.

Kristin Bolinske
Bolinske Consulting & Recruiting
http://www.bolinskeconsulting.com
Scott McArthur

Nov 3rd, 2008

Yes yes yes!

All the evidence is that organisations who invest in (especially) innovation when we are in a downturn come out fighting and become more successful as a consequence! Come on HR – speak up!