How to bridge
the gap:
Culture
Communication
Key Talent
Identification &
Retention
Employee
Knowledge
The Leadership Key
Why is culture important?
How will you communicate?
 Employees are starving for information.
 What communication channels will you utilize?
 How frequently will you communicate & what you
communicate are critical.
 Key communication plans
 Existing employees
 Merger employees
 Between letter of intent and close date
 After close date
Who are your key management?
 Swift assessment needed:
 Identification and determination of skill set, capabilities
 Compensation & outplacement packages
 Management succession plans
 Impact to organization
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Involuntary terminations
Voluntary terminations
Reassignment
 Full understanding the company organizational chart
Who are your key talent?
 Swift assessment needed:
 Identification and determination of skill set, capabilities
 Compensation packages
 Impact to organization



Involuntary terminations
Voluntary terminations
Reassignment
 Develop retention program
 Retention packages
 Communication plan
How do you retain talent?
 Early communication on key topics:
 Health & Welfare, and Retirement benefits
 Vacation & Holidays
 Payroll calendar
 Severance packages & outplacement assistance
 Dress code
 How the company will be run
 Identify & communicate who leadership is
 Let them know as soon as possible the status of their
employment
How do you retain talent?
 Retention Program
 Determine severance program & outplacement assistance
 Determine what type of retention pay plans
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Who will be eligible
Level of payments
Type of payments
Requirements for and timing of payments
 Are you relocating operations?
 Communicate intent and implement retention program
 Communicate severance packages, outplacement assistance
 Make offers with relocation packages and provide severance &
retention packages quickly
 Provide trips to new facility to tour facility, provide information on
schools, community, quality of life
How to retain talent?
 Engage leadership
 Interviews with affected employees
 Use to deliver communications

Provide talking points and FAQ documents
 Ensure leadership is aware that people connect with
people

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Honest & frequent communication
Allow questions and answer in a open manner
Keep negative reactions to poor process or surprises to a
minimum
How to retain talent?
 What next?
 Change management
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Culture alignment and adoption
 Mission, Purpose & Values
 Unwritten rules
Leadership changes
Process & procedure changes
Talent Management During
Mergers & Acquisitions
Questions?