Advice on delivering bad news to staff

[bradsmissus]

I am a new manager, in post since December although working for current employer for 2 years so know everyone quite well.

I have found out today that we won't be getting a pay increase this year, our salaries are to be frozen for at least 1 year.

It is a smallish organisation and I am the only manager, managing a business on behalf of partners.

I have no experience of this at all and this will be the first time we have had our pay frozen. I know the job market is bad at the moment and we have been lucky not to have had pay frozen up until now but I am still dreading delivering the news.

Any tips from people who manage?

Don't use any euphemisms, just say what you need to in simple, clear language, that way there is less chance of misunderstanding.

Provide a paper copy of the main points of what you said to be read and digested later.

Can you get everyone together with little notice? If so, I'd say a quick not-too-formal meeting would be the best. Say what needs said in straightforward terms, and as Clayhead says have a written version for them to refer to afterwards.

It's best if you can tell everyone in one go - but obviously that depends on the set-up. If anyone isn't at the meeting, make sure they get the info as soon as possible so they don't get half-stories and worry - but if they're off sick or anything, then think carefully how/when you want to tell them.

I would try to avoid a formal-sounding meeting booked ahead, as that's likely to set off rumours that are worse than the truth.

I would make it clear that your salary is frozen as well.

"All of us will be having a pay freeze this year due to xxx".

"I am sorry to be the bearer of less than great news" (not sorry for the pay freeze as that's nothing to do with you presumably)

I would say it directly and fairly quickly.

DH and DB got a pay freeze last year, other DB got put on "consultation" ie 2 people, 1 must go, fortunately he stayed. But point is, the people you manage must know people who have lost jobs/had jobs in jeopardy/had pay freeze/pay cut so shouldn't really take it toooo badly and additionally should have no beef with you about it.

This is all great - thanks so much. I had thought calling a meeting would make everyone start gossiping and fretting.

Should be able to get each department together across 2 days.

I agree with others. Be clear and to the point. Make it clear that your pay is frozen too (i.e. "We are all having a pay freeze this year"). Don't apologise for the decision if you didn't have control over it. If you know the affect it is having on partners (i.e. if the partners are taking a drop in drawings) and they are willing to share that information with staff, then that can help too. Makes people feel better if you're all in it together!

You might find that people react better than you expect. Our pay was frozen last year, as was DH's, as was nearly everyone we know. You're lucky to have lasted this long and not needed redundancies in your team!

Can you not do all departments in one go as it's a small organisation? Otherwise, the first department you meet will hear the news from you, everyone else will hear it from whomever they first bump into in the hallway and all subsequent meetings will be more difficult because people will arrive already knowing the worst, sulking because their department wasn't first to hear and ready to ask probably unanswerable questions.

Does you company work a normal five day week? If so, do it on a Friday afternoon. Seriously. That way, if people get upset or angry (somebody nearly always does) they take it home with them and can digest it over the weekend. Much better than causing more upset at work.

I just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. I did the deed on Thursday and Friday - due to shifts it was impossible to get everone on the same day.

I think it went well. Nobody has made a huge fuss. Alot of people have been to see me since and have said they understand and have made some nice compliments about how well I handled it.

Thanks all for the good advice.