Although mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are poised to once again pick up steam in 2021, studies report that a majority of the workforce will ignore or reject a major change. This is largely attributed to uncertainty – what if their position becomes redundant, the new organization doesn’t appreciate their skills and contributions, or the companies’ cultures clash? As people are consumed with worry, employee engagement and productivity drop.
To alleviate these concerns and positively impact the employee experience during a time of upheaval, leadership of both companies must look beyond the technology, departmental, and other functional integrations and put equal focus on employees’ emotional and psychological needs for validation, consistency, and a clear plan for the future.
Here’s how.