As 2022 comes to an end, one shared sentiment may emerge across all organizations and industries: "What a year."
No doubt, this is how many end-of-year addresses will begin as employers reach out to their workforce this month, and no matter what the year's impact has been on a business, it is important for leaders to keep their
"We are at a time when every moment matters," says Burgette White, VP of HR at staffing agency Adecco North America. "Share a message that is authentic, speaks from the voice of the leader and is consistent with the themes shared throughout the year."
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The EOY message is a great chance to touch on
In addition to establishing a richer company culture, a large focus for many businesses this year has been on recruitment and retention. Whether speaking to new or veteran employees, taking the opportunity to reiterate that their presence is appreciated and purposeful helps to create a strong connection among workers as well as to the company itself.
"Leaders can seamlessly tie company culture into end of year messaging by leaning on purpose," says White. "Both regarding what the company does and how employees contribute to the culture in an impactful way."
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As part of the ongoing effort to provide a strong and healthy work environment, many employers have utilized feedback from their workforce to establish the needs and wants of their employees. The end of the year is a great time to check in and connect what's been learned with plans for the upcoming year.
"Communication should be personal and personalized as much as possible, and stress the human aspects of work," says Stefanie Tignor, VP of data science at HR tech company Humu. "Humu sees from our data that employees are hungry for managers to express emotional support, show an interest in their well-being, and genuinely care for their direct reports. You need to understand what motivates your team members and what they value."
Additional support can come from management in the form of reiterating the benefits available to workers, especially as they may be concerned about the effects of current and upcoming economic turmoil. Harlyn Croland, head of business operations and strategy for financial wellness benefit provider Betterment at Work, reiterates the importance of identifying how employers can best support their workers.
"Consider taking the end of the year to educate employees on the financial wellness benefits at their disposal," says Croland. "This kind of communication is something employees want — a recent survey we conducted found that 48% of employees would like additional proactive engagement around the benefits their employer offers. This will not only help employees, but also demonstrate employers care about their employees and are committed to their overall financial wellbeing."
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As organizations look forward to 2023, White notes that this is a time to summarize key accomplishments and celebratory points from the year, while giving a glimpse to the year ahead. If the EOY message is a signal of imminent challenges, she says, year-end can serve as quiet time for reflection and potentially time for action.
"Acknowledge and thank employees for being part of the organization and recognize the internal and external landscape," says White. "If there's something lingering it is worth mentioning, touch on it so that the leader is not perceived as tone-deaf or inauthentic, but then pivot to what is being done, and what's exciting. Employees are looking for key takeaways that give an indication of what to expect in 2023. Leave them with something memorable — but true!"
