The Definitive Guide to HR Communication: Engaging Employees in Benefits, Pay, and Performance
Definitive is a strong descriptor to include in a title. Then again, Davis (Your Attention, Please, 2006) and Shannon have penned what is probably the first (if not the most accessible) introduction to the art of communicating with employees. Clearly, it�s a subject demanding attention, given the statistics the authors cite about information overload, poor use of benefits, and not-so-high perceptions of the corporation as employer. What cinches their claim about the importance of communication? That it contributes to productivity, which, in turn, boosts profitability. This is a very prescriptive manual, aimed primarily at human resources executives, with lots of visual steps and reminders about actions to take, from framing the message to recruiting talent. Checklists summarize each chapter�s lessons, while frequent sidebars provide examples and explanations to further illustrate the concepts. Davis and Shannon�s greatest addition to the literature lies in their approach: treat employees as customers, they say. A clear, concise (with occasional lapses into jargon) aid for any professional who motivates employees every day. --Barbara Jacobs