There is a reason why the truth is sometimes difficult to hear. Sometimes, the truth is scary. Telling a group of co-workers that the company profits are down and layoffs are eminent is not fun, to hear OR to tell. Telling the truth can be tough, but it’s exactly what needs to be done to keep employee morale from going too low in hard times.

When times are tough for a company, everyone knows it. It doesn’t take a corner office and a ream of financial reports to figure it out. Everyone on the floor knows if they have been busy, if the work has been good quality or if things are not going as well as in the past. Its in times like these that rumors begin to circulate.

Not all rumors are started viciously, just a few people wondering out loud to each other, as coworkers do. The next person overhears and says it to someone else. Pretty soon, everyone is positive that half the company is going to be laid off tomorrow.

The best way to keep morale from going to low in times that are tough is simply to tell the truth. If things aren’t going well, get everyone together and tell them what is going on, and what the company is planning on doing about it.

This lessens the amount of rumors that get circulated, and helps people understand what exactly is going on. Make sure you have follow up meetings on a regular basis, so you don’t leave everyone hanging. People want to know how things are going, what is being done about it, and how the efforts are working.

The truth is tough, but not facing the truth can result in worse results, so make sure you communicate.

Learn more about employee morale at Morale.me.