HR communications build knowledge, commitment and a competitive advantage
“HR communications are one of the cornerstones of our success. They help us nurture a common awareness among employees about important work-related issues, our company’s operations as a whole, and shared meanings that facilitate commitment,” says Marko Kohvakka, HR Director at Pihla Group.
Pihla Group, part of the international Inwido Group, produces windows at four factories across Finland. In addition to production workers, the companies human resources include sales, marketing, installation, design and development staff, as well as local employees at three different Finnish offices. In total, Pihla Group has approximately 850 employees. HR communications cover all personnel, as well as certain subcontractor partners.
Recruitment communications bring potential employees and Pihla Group together. Medita has implemented Pihla Group’s recruitment communications through multiple channels, helping Pihla Group find experts for sales and customer acquisition positions, for example, as well as experts and at the managerial level. Effective recruitment communications are always based on a careful analysis of the target group and the precise targeting of communications.
“An expert partner who is knowledgeable about our industry makes recruitment communications easy and productive. Utilising multiple different channels has helped us find the right employees for different tasks,” says Kohvakka.
Personnel magazine communicates workplace issues in an interesting way
A personnel magazine was found to be the best communications channel for all employees. The magazine is distributed to the home of each employee 4 to 6 times a year. The contents of the personnel magazine are also available on the company’s intranet, and the online version of the magazine is available as needed. In this way, Pihla Group’s HR communications utilise multiple channels.
The aim is to communicate the company’s message to employees in a clear and interesting way, to highlight topical issues, and to promote understanding about the company’s operations and the role played by each employee. Employees are also given a voice in the personnel magazine.
Medita plans the magazine together with Pihla Group’s HR team and the people in charge of each issue’s theme. Medita has overall responsibility for the magazine’s design, production and project management up to distribution. Trusted partners implement the graphic design and printing.
“The magazine has been found to be both necessary and useful in our day-to-day operations, and also according to reader surveys. Employees enjoy reading it, and it is considered useful in the many different positions within Pihla Group. For the company’s management, the magazine serves as a communications channel that reaches all personnel,” says Kohvakka.
Benefits of broad-based collaboration
Pihla Group benefits from the fact that Medita is its partner also for external communications. The broad-based communications collaboration enhances productivity, for example by using different versions of the same contents for specific target groups.
“When implementing HR communications, it is essential that the communications partner has a good knowledge and understanding of the client’s operations, goals and people. It all begins with good industry expertise. We know we can trust Medita’s team and the quality of their work,” Kohvakka confirms.
Occupational safety as a theme and competitive advantage
The theme of occupational safety has been strongly emphasised within Pihla Group with the aim of achieving the safest and highest-quality work possible. Good occupational safety is a competitive advantage for the Pihla Group, and communications provide an effective way of influencing the operating culture and habits.
To communicate occupational safety, a monthly newsletter was developed to address the issue through the voice of employees. The newsletter is distributed to each employee via e-mail, and it is also available in the public areas at the company’s premises. Safety is also communicated by a slide show on info screens, regularly updated safety indicators and posters. Employees are encouraged to raise the issue and actively promote safety, including through competitions. Occupational safety is also discussed in every issue of the personnel magazine. In addition to stating the facts and reminding employees about the company’s principles, the aim is to communicate safety in a way that is easy to approach and understand.
“Our collaboration with Medita has been very smooth. Everything is taken care of, and we get the help expertise we need for our communications,” Marko Kohvakka adds.
Medita’s internal communications support for Pihla Group:
- Planning, implementation and reader surveys for personnel magazine that is published regularly and distributed to all employees
- Contents also for the company’s intranet as needed
- Monthly occupational safety newsletter
- Occupational safety slide show for info screens at the company’s premises
- Occupational safety posters
- Coordination of competitions to activate employees
