The current economic atmosphere is one of fear and loss of control, and in such an atmosphere, productivity can suffer. But even in the face of communication budget and staff cuts, companies have the power to ensure that employees feel enabled and empowered. Robin McCasland, a director for Buck Consultants, said in a recent press release, “Communicating for optimal employee engagement is always a timely topic, but even more so during challenging economic times.” She continues, citing a recent poll, “Our results represent opportunities for communicators to have greater influence in delivering messages that encourage employees to remain productive, and to understand how their work contributes toward achieving business priorities.”

Companies can use a variety of social media tools to easily and inexpensively engage their employees in dialogue, including:

• Company blogs
• Podcasts and videocasts
• Internal social networks
• RSS feeds

Yet, 56% of top executives surveyed do not participate in internal and social media at this time. This begs the question; how do you engage your employees?