What Employees Want in Change Comms

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Employees at REI asked for a new approach to change communications, and Nicole Bernard shares three ways they listened and adjusted. First, when delivering bad news, employees prefer honesty—just rip off the band-aid, but also give them time to process the personal impact before moving forward. Second, the tone and channels matter—employees want to see and hear directly from the leaders making the decisions, not just receive written announcements. Finally, share business context more openly and regularly—so when change happens, it doesn’t catch employees by surprise. Learn how these shifts led to better engagement and smoother transitions.

  • Nicole Bernard
    Sr. Manager, Internal Communications
    REI