TD Bank tells employees to RTO in the name of culture; new OpenAI exec hits optimistic notes in intro memo

Greetings, comms pros! Let’s take a look at some news stories from the past week and see what we can learn from them.

1 . Internal memo: TD Bank calls employees back to their desk for collaboration

TD Bank released a memo this week calling corporate employees back to their desks, all in the name of better culture and collaboration. According to a report from The Globe and Mail, the financial institution will require executives to come back to the office four days a week starting in November. Additionally, the memo The Globe and Mail cites stated that bank will also roll out the entire process to all its locations by November, recognizing the need for time to implement changes.

“TD has made strong progress over the last several months and there is clear momentum in our business as we advance an ambitious agenda,” chief human resources officer Melanie Burns said in the internal memo.

“We’ve seen that when we work together in person, we collaborate more effectively, make better decisions more quickly, learn from each other, and deliver stronger outcomes.”

Burns’ memo also made a concession for employees concerned about work-life balance. “If from time to time you need additional flexibility to work from home, please check with your people manager and we will work with you to support your needs,” Burns wrote.

The most important part of any RTO comms push is keeping the message grounded within a company’s culture and values. TD communicates that while the decision is a business-focused one, the business advances when people are working together and learning at the office. That’s a pretty clear statement of a cultural norm.

It’s also worth noting that the memo took the time to focus on employees who might have flexibility concerns. That statement and the willingness it expresses to work with employees is a great example of employee-centric RTO communication. Starbucks recently showed this in action by recognizing an employee need for flexibility in its RTO comms process.

RTO comms can prove tough to nail, and chances are a lot of people aren’t going to be happy about being asked to sit in an office after years working from home. But by grounding your announcement in your company’s culture and acknowledging the people the move will impact, you’ll be on the right track.

2. New Open AI executive exudes positivity in note to employees

Incoming OpenAI CEO of applications Fidji Simo sent the company’s employees a memo this week introducing herself and sharing her perspective on how her new employees stand to change the world with AI technology.

According to WIRED:

“If we get this right, AI can give everyone more power than ever,” Simo wrote, striking a hyper-optimistic tone, according to a copy of the memo viewed by WIRED. “But I also realize those opportunities won’t magically appear on their own.”

Sure, Simo’s employee audience are just about as close to the frontlines of AI development as anyone these days, but optimism is important in executive comms.

Simo also uses the term “we” when talking about her employees and their work. While it may seem minor and is somewhat standard, that sort of subtle tone signals to employees that their leader is there to work with them, not over them. How a leader communicates with employees when they begin a new tenure is critical — it informs a lot about how they plan to run their organization. Optimistic introductions aren’t everything, but they can go a long way toward buoying an employee base in transition.

3. Report: Sharing good news can help employees feel more connected with one another

At the bottom of this column each week, we try to share some good news with you. It’s a nice palette cleanser as you head into your weekend. According to a new study, good news sharing is a great way to buoy employee morale and energize them on the job.

The study from The University of Michigan found that in a study of over 350 working American adults, receiving positive news can boost both morale and a sense of energy around an employee’s work. A report in Safety and Health Magazine analyzed the study and said that positive interpersonal interactions boosted good feelings as they related to work and kept negative sentiment at bay. While the study focused on peer-to-peer connection rather than explicitly mentioning employee comms, there’s a lesson here for internal communicators.

It’s important to share the top-line news and information employees need to know. But sprinkling in a bit of good news in your messaging cadence from time to time can give your colleagues a much-needed boost. This can include feel-good employee centric stories on the intranet or even just positive tidbits in an employee newsletter. Everybody likes good news — don’t hesitate to include some positive company updates like promotions or volunteering efforts alongside the usual messaging in an employee’s feed.

4. How about some good news?

• An AI developed paint color can help cool homes in warm environments.
• Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania discovered the power of snake venom as a potential antibiotic capacity.
• Ozzy Osbourne’s final concert raised $190 million for charity.
• Ragan Training is great for communications pros to find inspiration and resources.
• You should be rewarded for your work. Find out how to earn an award here! Our Video, Visual and Virtual Awards and PR Daily Awards close to entries this month.

Have a great weekend comms all-stars!

Sean Devlin is an editor at Ragan Communications. In his spare time he enjoys Philly sports and trivia.