It’s the people who know you the best that can hurt you the worst. I think about the scene in Revenge of the Sith when Obi-Wan Kenobi is forced to fight Anakin Skywalker. Even with mountains of evidence before him, Kenobi tries to reason with Skywalker (after all, only a Sith deals in absolutes), unwilling to admit that his former padawan had been corrupted beyond return. The corporate world rarely comes to celestial lava-lit lightsaber duels, but every business owner who’s had a bit of tenure in the workforce has felt the sting of betrayal from an employee who turns to the dark side. 

Why is a wayward employee a tough PR challenge? The reality is that few people want to create a plan to address what happens when people they care about act against the best interests of the business. You trust your employees; you believe in their commitment to your company. Why would you need to plan for them to turn on you? This exact line of thinking is why you should start thinking through scenarios today.

Whenever a crisis involves emotion, a well-planned approach is necessary.

That feeling in your gut when someone you respect makes a decision you don’t – that is why you need a PR plan. As soon as you find out about a wayward employee, your ability to rationally plan a response may fly out the window. Undoubtedly, some of us are better at separating our emotions from the logical next steps in the moment than others, but all of us struggle to remain impartial when our trust is broken. An employee who stands against a business can create a lot of hurt feelings across your company, so having a PR plan ready can bring everyone onto the same page and ensure that damage from the fallout is not exacerbated. 

Whenever a crisis involves someone closely connected to your business, a well-planned approach is necessary.

Proximity to information can create power, and your employees know more about your business than anyone. Even if everything you do is above board, your employees understand what makes your business tick and how to interfere with that if they become spiteful. If someone feels jilted and moves into sabotage mode, they can create a lot of damage before you catch wind of what’s happening. Having a clear plan in place will allow you to move quickly, communicating and problem-solving simultaneously. 

Whenever a crisis could involve legal parameters, a well-planned approach is necessary.

While leaving nasty online reviews may not warrant a call to your legal department, some wayward employee actions could become judicially messy. From embezzlement to collusion, you need to be prepared to communicate if someone on the inside is accused of breaking the law. In these instances, your plan needs to be especially tight. You must understand what you can and cannot legally say, much of which can be determined in advance with your counsel. While it’s not fun to think about, it’s essential to prepare so you don’t have to think as much about what you’ll say in the moment. 

Sometimes, it’s better to have someone completely disconnected from your organization to help you navigate the most personal crises – like a wayward employee. We can be the team to take on the planning for you. Get in touch today to get started.