LAL's Company Communication Hub is an ‘add-on’ feature that offers a centralised platform for effective internal communication. By providing tools for creating news feeds and sending targeted notifications, we help organisations:
Improve Employee Engagement: Keep employees informed and connected with company updates, job openings, and training materials.
Enhance Communication Efficiency: Streamline the dissemination of important information to relevant audiences.
Foster a Stronger Company Culture: Build a sense of community and belonging by facilitating open and transparent communication.
Example
Below is an example of how the Communication Hub appears to users. You’ll notice that relevant document links, such as forms that need to be completed, can be attached along with website hyperlinks for further information.
Managing Post Categories
What is a ‘Post Category’?
A post category refers to a specific label or folder that groups together related posts. Think of it as a way to organise and categorise content within the platform. When you create a post, you can assign it to a particular category, which helps to keep the content organised and easy to navigate. This is especially useful in larger systems where there might be many posts, ensuring that similar content is stored together for easier access and management. So, a post category acts like a container that holds a collection of posts that share a common theme or subject.
Creating a Post Category
Click on the cog icon and select ‘Post Categories’ from the dropdown menu.
Editing or Deleting Existing Categories
On this screen, you can:
Click the cog icon next to any existing category to edit it.
Click the bin icon to delete a category.
To create a new category, click ‘Add’ in the top-right corner.
Add New Post Category
After clicking ‘Add’, a pop-up window titled ‘Add New Post Category’ will appear. Here, you can enter the details for your new category. Then click ‘save’ to create.
You also have the option to assign a ‘Parent Post Category’ if you wish to create a sub-category (useful if you have multiple categories grouped under one main topic).
Uploading Files to Categories
Create a File Type
To upload files associated with your categories, you’ll first need to create a ‘File Type’.
Click on the cog icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
Select ‘File Type’ from the menu.
A pop-up window will appear where you can input the required information (see example below).
Creating a New Post in the Company Communication Hub
Navigate to your company’s Communication Hub. This will appear as your company’s name at the top of the screen (e.g., ‘KPharma’ in the example below).
Here you can view all existing categories and posts, including any files or attachments that have been uploaded.
Click ‘Create New Post’ in the top-right corner of the screen
A pop-up window titled ‘Create New Post’ will appear.
What You Can Add to a Post:
Category: Select which category the post belongs to.
Headline: Enter a title, e.g. ‘Code of conduct’
Description: Add any additional details about the post.
Website Link: Include a hyperlink if applicable.
File Upload: Attach relevant files.
Jurisdiction: Specify the relevant region, or add all. Don't need to select all if you want to go to all, just leave it blank.
Employee Type Visibility: Select which types of employees or locums should see the post. Don't need to select all if you want to go to all, just leave it blank.
Notification: Choose whether to notify relevant employees or locums. Locums will either receive an in app notification or an email - it depends on how their preferences are set in their settings.
Best Practices:
1. Organise Content with Clear Categories
To ensure all information is easy to find, categorise your posts effectively. Here’s a suggested structure for categories:
SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures): Store all critical operational guidelines, including step-by-step processes for pharmacy and optician services.
Company Policies: Share updated policies regarding work hours, dress code, professional conduct, or health and safety guidelines.
Payment & Payroll Information: Post any updates or essential payment-related info, including invoice details, pay schedules, or payment system changes.
Training & Development: Include any resources, such as training materials or development programs, relevant to staff and locums.
General Announcements: Use this for general updates, including holidays, upcoming events, and important changes affecting the entire team.
Tip: Consider using subcategories for further granularity, like “Admin Policies,” “Health and Safety SOPs,” or “Payment FAQs.”
2. Use Clear and Consistent Post Titles
To ensure that information is easily accessible, be specific in your post titles. Here are some examples of well-structured titles:
"New SOP: Handling Prescription Errors (Effective 1st July 2025)"
"Updated Payment Procedures for Locums – Please Review"
"Mandatory Policy Update: COVID-19 Safety Protocols"
"Employee Benefits – Changes for Q3 2025"
Tip: Use dates in the title for time-sensitive information to help users identify when a post was last updated or if it’s still relevant.
3. Keep Posts Concise and Actionable
When sharing key information, clarity is key. Follow these tips to make your posts easy to read and act on:
Keep it short and to the point: Summarise the key information in bullet points or short paragraphs. Staff are more likely to engage with easily digestible content.
Highlight key actions: Make sure action items, deadlines, and important steps are clearly visible. You can use bold text, bullet points, or numbered lists to ensure these stand out.
Provide links: If you reference longer documents (e.g., detailed SOPs or policy documents), include a link to the full version for easy access.
4. Regularly Review and Update Content
To keep your communications relevant, update Posts as needed: Review and update SOPs, policies, and payment details on a regular basis to ensure they remain current.
This guide should help you effectively leverage the communication hub for seamless information sharing and team collaboration. If you have any further questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team.