A number of companies have reported that their communications and the efforts of their employee-driven committees have actually increased and become more frequent throughout the pandemic. Committees are at the forefront of new education and employee engagement initiatives, and many committee members are doing all of this for the first time. Companies are looking for more ways to virtually connect with employees as well as other ESOP companies, and we are helping to foster these connections online once more this fall!

The NCEO has put together an online training and networking program for companies, new and old, that want to create employee involvement and help their employees understand what their ESOP really means to their company, to employees, and to their families in the long run. This summer we will host our next series of the NCEO's Communications Committee Crash Course, which consists of six separate training sessions that will cover topics such as developing an effective communication strategy, common challenges and mistakes, how to create alignment with company leadership, and how to improve employee engagement strategies for the long term.

You may have just started an ESOP, or you may be a mature and growing ESOP company with new employees that have similar questions to those at companies with new ESOPs. Whether you are just getting started or trying to get back on track, this training program will offer communications committees from companies of all shapes and sizes a way to learn, engage, and network with others in the employee ownership community. Join me and other employee-owners on Wednesday, November 10 as we host attendees and invite employee-owner friends and professionals to provide their insights and discuss challenges and lessons learned at their own companies. We hope to see you there!