Managing the State of Uncertainty: How to Communicate the Inside during COVID-19?

Abstract

2020 has started with an unexpected disease, long term, full of questions and worries for humanity. While the health sector and governments were trying to understand and tell the world about this virus, almost every sector in the world was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. What we are sure of is that the world has ‘changed.' ‘Communication’ has become more critical than ever. Bans and restrictions that come with COVID-19 have changed how we look at the world, life, and ourselves. In addition to trying to keep up with new developments, corporates and brands continued to carry on their communication activities internally and externally. One of the greatest challenges corporations face was about their workforce and how to manage it, both operationally and communicatively. Employees’ morale, well-being, health, and safety have become more important than ever as corporations have to protect their employees and work for continued support strategies. The future of the workplace is changing, how employees perceive their work changes, change brings uncertainties that corporations should handle for the well-being of their employees who are the drivers of the businesses. This study will provide an overview of how organizations took and continue to take action during the coronavirus pandemic, what they have done to minimalize the negative effects, their organizational efforts, communication practices, all in terms of internal/employee communications. Global approaches and local workplace practices from Turkish corporations will also be analyzed. © 2022 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.