Maintaining A Productive Workforce During A Consolidation Process

Whether a company is consolidating its own business units or merging entirely with another firm, it represents a shift in culture for employees: processes change, routines become unsettled, and positions are often eliminated. In these situations, the author recommends that executive leadership make employees a priority, keeping them informed of the changes that will affect them. "Changes," says the author, "should be made with an eye toward creating a functional, productive workforce." Take time to understand the cultures involved. In the work environment, culture refers to how things get done, that is, leadership styles, employee demographics, hierarchy, and so forth.