© 2024 Seyfarth Shaw LLP | www.seyfarth.com Classification Guidebook | 27 Planning Your Communications A. Communications Overview A note about developing an effective exemption-focused communications plan/utilizing the texts below. Communications to employees should, as a best practice, be both proactive and responsive in nature. There is no “one size fits all” communication plan, FAQ, or script. Announcements should be tailored and relevant to the recipients. Such communications should focus on the changes that have been decided upon and employ simple, user-friendly language. The content below is conceptual in nature and provides a starting point. In establishing a communication plan, it is important for the employer to answer four W’s—who will communicate with whom; what will they say; when will they do it; and where will they do it. You should develop a timeline for who is to communicate with whom, and when and how, as well as a set of vetted, effective, and safe “response scripts” for questions. Part of effective communication planning includes brainstorming the kind of questions managers expect to hear. Including key managers in the planning process, particularly those who have an “ear to the ground,” can provide valuable insights on the questions or concerns that may arise. Once you collect likely questions from key managers and draft effective, user-friendly responses, the critical final step is to train your managers on how and when to use these scripts and how to effectively manage newly non-exempt employees. In our experience, the best way to do that is through high-impact, interactive exercises. The below texts are offered merely as a starting point to help drive thought around this topic. They are not intended to serve as a substitute for a tailored, well-thought plan, nor the important processes that go into bringing such a plan together. Communications and Training Checklist Develop communications plan Develop communications calendar Develop training design plan Develop training deployment calendar Implement training deployment calendar
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