Even CEOs must do their part and hold other top execs accountable for effectively communicating with staff. These forces have inflamed employees' feelings about each other and how their company treats them. Sometimes, e-mail is used to convey negative personal feedback. Unlike verbal comments that are usually forgotten in time, employees save damaging e-mails and repeatedly show them to others, which destroys trust and fuels rumor mills. They're absolutely vital ingredients to keeping gossip at a minimum.
Some companies take it a step further.
Mich. The manufacturer helps its 2,600 domestic employees stay connected to the organization through its equity structure, which comprises six different committees. Each committee tackles work issues related to one specific manufacturing plant. While members meet monthly, they also address employee questions daily and are able to stop rumors from growing. It doesn't take very long for people to get the story straight. We've never had anything get out of control.