Many larger companies publish a staff magazine for their employees and retirees. Such a periodic body that arrives in the mailbox at home (or appears in digital form) aims to strengthen the bond between company and staff, as well as the solidarity between colleagues. But since such a personnel body is also the mouthpiece of the management, objectivity can sometimes be lacking.
Internal communications body
The staff magazine still appears to be an important internal communication tool for many larger companies, despite the competition from the intranet. Many employers of some size send their staff several times a year to their own company body, in which, among other things, all kinds of communications from the company regarding personnel changes are made known to the entire staff. There is also often a section in which the management gives its vision of the present and future. Of course, that news could also be distributed via email or intranet, but a message on paper is read more carefully and with more peace of mind. Another advantage is of course that not only the employee receives certain information, but also the rest of the family. In general, the partner is interested in the other’s business and livelihood. And then it’s also nice to occasionally save an interesting publication for later, perhaps because of that piece on your 25th anniversary with the company. The question is therefore whether it is wise to replace the paper staff sheet with a digital version.
News about the staff
Although the personnel changes and personnel information section is usually only found somewhere in the middle or end of the page, this is still the page that most retirees and employees look at first. Ultimately, everyone is interested in the well-being of (former) colleagues. The relevant section can of course be separated into:
- Private news: weddings, anniversaries, births, long-term illness, etc.
- Company news regarding specific people, such as: silver anniversaries, appointments, departures, graduates, transfers.
Departing colleagues
A sensitive point often appears to be the honest publication of colleagues who have been fired and are forced to leave. Especially in the case of larger reorganizations, waves of dismissals, etc., the ,left employment, section often appears to have been temporarily discontinued. The credibility of management is thus undermined by themselves.
Works Council
Reports of the works council meetings are of course sent directly to the staff without waiting, or placed on the intranet. But general information can of course also be distributed via the staff magazine and matters that are suitable for this can be explained in more detail in the magazine.
Departments and people in the spotlight
The staff magazine is of course ideally suited to get to know other people or other departments better. What do they do and who are those colleagues? There is also nothing more fun than taking a look into the private lives of colleagues who have been working at the company for years, so that we also get to know and appreciate the less business side of such people. In this way, the staff magazine breaks down any barriers between people and departments.
Big changes
A personnel body is a very good medium for management to develop a vision for the future, policy plans, new projects in the pipeline, and objectives that must or must not be achieved. But important actions or projects that have a short-term effect are often important to be made generally known. Since a staff magazine reaches and is read by everyone, including the competition , it is logical that it is only written about in a general sense. Nevertheless, such information increases the sense of solidarity.
Reorganizations
Employees who are informed timely and well will feel respected. If there is uncertainty about possible reorganizations, the company runs the risk of increased absenteeism due to illness. A sensible management also informs its staff in a timely manner via the personnel body to remove uncertainties. Also to eliminate the flow of rumors and to ensure that everyone hears the same story.
The staff association
Of course, company outings, Klaverjas evenings and the Sinterklaas party are communicated by the Staff Association via the staff magazine. This applies not only to announcements but also to fascinating reports afterwards.
Thanks
The staff magazine should of course also include space for staff who have something to share, such as thank yous for illness, anniversaries or other matters.
Passing away
After all, the personnel body is also the place where we remember retired former employees who have closed their eyes for good.