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How 7 Companies Quickly Pivoted To a Crisis Communication Game Plan

Crisis Comms Checklist

When this global pandemic pushed a worldwide pause button on our normal day-to-day lives, companies had to quickly adjust how they work and communicate. 80% of the world’s workforce are deskless employees, most of which are deemed essential—like supermarkets, healthcare, and manufacturing. While some people are working remotely, there are many more who must still show up to work.

Companies who had a mobile-first, digital internal communications strategy are now using these platforms to support crisis communications for their frontline teams. 

Learn how to swiftly facilitate crisis communication in your organization.

Just weeks ago, companies were using workplace technology to facilitate daily operational communication. Now, it’s become an essential lifeline—a channel that enables companies to continue to operate their businesses as efficiently as possible under these unprecedented circumstances. While also relaying vital information to their dispersed teams to ensure their safety. 

Here are some of the innovative ways some Beekeeper customers have kept their employees united through this current crisis. 

An Airport Creates a Coronavirus Campaign for 6,000+ Employees

Despite a global lockdown, closed borders, and greatly reduced takeoffs and landings, large airports are still open. At one of Europe’s busiest hubs of international travel, employees are still clocking in. Though they’re operating at half capacity for commercial air travel, they are dedicated to remaining open and have become a major hub for global medical supply transport. 

Before this outbreak, the airport’s 6,000 employees connected with the company and one another over Beekeeper. Their usage on the platform has helped them transition their communication management as employees have had to switch gears to accommodate a more urgent situation. 

Airport leaders have created a dedicated coronavirus campaign on Beekeeper that can reach every one of its employees in order to:

  • Send real-time, up-to-the-minute public health information specific to airport workers
  • Continually share management’s response planning
  • Answer staff questions via regular PDF document and by video 

The ability to still engage in real-time communication will enable leaders and employees to maintain operational efficiency and continuity when runways reopen and once again welcome 75 million annual travelers.

Companies Create Dedicated Streams For Crisis Content

In order to prioritize messaging specific to the coronavirus, companies are creating dedicated streams to channel specific information for employees to easily access important communication. In this global economy, where many customers have multiple locations and diverse staff, Beekeeper’s inline translation allows every employee to understand this messaging in their preferred language. 

While almost all customers are using streams to disperse preventive measures to keep employees healthy, every company has unique communication needs in their respective industries. Here are ways Beekeeper customers are currently using messaging streams:

  • A European pharmacy chain is sending out daily updates on medical supplies, like the amount of masks in stock. They’re also keeping employees up to date on protective measures they’re taking to keep employees safe at work.
  • One global tour company created a “Situation Coronavirus” stream with frequent updates impacting the industry, their employees, and their customers. They use the streams to attach documents and bulletins.
  • A boutique hotel brand in the United States created a stream to update employees on event cancellations that impact their specific location. 

They’re also using streams to boost employee morale at a time when unemployment is skyrocketing by sharing positive messaging to continue a sense of unity. Company leadership has also created a management-only stream to facilitate strategic collaboration.

A Hospitality Company Enables Peer-to-Peer Communication

In the current crisis, when many people have moved to a work-from-home scenario, frontline employees are on-site and more isolated than ever. With Beekeeper, one hospitality company is making sure every employee is connecting with the company, and with their colleagues across the United States. 

The president is sharing detailed information that impacts workers through direct messaging. Hearing straight from company leadership during a time when everything feels uncertain can go a long way in reassuring employees and giving them extra support. 

Employees are also using Beekeeper to connect with one other and updating their profiles to alert others of their location status to let people know where they’re working.

Staying connected is more important than ever for employees right now. At a time when people are required to be physically apart, maintaining camaraderie will help employees easily realign when they’re physically back together.

Two Companies Take a Multi-Feature Communication Approach

As the global environment continues to evolve, Beekeeper is enabling companies to maintain the same communication capabilities. Companies are taking advantage of the digital solution’s multiple customizable features to deliver real-time communication.

One mining company, deemed an essential business, is continuing to operate in the midst of the crisis. But it has reduced in-person interactions to business-critical meetings. That means Beekeeper is a primary mode of communication right now for most of the company.

With mining, employees are always on the move around the facility. To ensure everyone receives essential messages related to how the coronavirus is impacting operations, the company has created a dedicated crisis stream on the app. They are also using digital signage to run a slideshow of the stream to make sure every employee sees the latest messages.

In Germany, an electronic components manufacturing company has reduced operations but is still maintaining a frontline team to continue working on essential projects. Their multi-feature approach includes:

  • Company leaders have created a health communication stream to keep employees informed on how the pandemic is impacting their company at its worldwide locations.
  • The CEO is sharing videos and incorporating them into the stream. 
  • Group chats have allowed instant communication between essential teams. 
  • Two-way communication is enabling onsite workers to relay manufacturing updates to managers. 

As the situation around the world continues to change daily, companies are overcoming uncertainty by developing a continuity of communication with their employees. When day-to-day business resumes, companies can seamlessly switch back to regular communication strategies thanks to their ability to digitally weather this storm together.

Learn how the right communication platform can support your company with our Crisis Communication Checklist.