Culture toolkit - internal communications

How internal communications shapes culture

Communication matters. The information we choose to share with employees, and the words we use to do so, says a lot about what we value and how we want people to work.

When it comes to how people talk about ageing and older age it is largely negative, and small changes to the ways that we speak and write about ageing and older age, if applied consistently, could have a big impact.

Ageism can also be internalised, leading your older employees to limit their own behaviour and opportunities. Don’t let your internal communication be a contributing factor. 

 When thinking about internal communications, remember that important messages will bear repeating again and again. You should not assume that every communication will be received, read and remembered.

Not all sectors (or roles) are equal and consideration will need to be given to how communication reaches non desk-based roles.  

For example care, hospitality, retail and manufacturing workforces, with a high proportion of racialised workers (without digital access), will need to be provided alternative methods of communication (notice boards, team briefings, use of union reps and manager led conversations).  

Employers who do collate and share worker stories should curate a diverse story bank, co-produced with older workers from racialised communities. Remember to use a diverse range of images in all of your internal comms.  You can find a wide range of free age-positive images in our age-positive image library.

Different teams may need different approaches. Don’t shy away from tailored messages and tactics.  

However you choose to communicate, your internal communications should represent the multigenerational workforce and the value that everyone has within that.