Earn a Living

Knowing Your Audience

C. Taylor

BCOM/275

December 2, 2012

Professor

As people leave their homes each day to earn a living the general expectation is that they'll return that evening or as scheduled to their families and plan for another day. On August 5, 2010 that didn't happen to the Chilean Miners. While at work in a copper mine in the northern parts of Chile, a accident occurred and the mine structure collapsed trapping 33 hard working people trapped 700 meters 2,300 ft below ground. (Weik, 2010) Often we go to home and lie in bed at night not realizing that all people weren't privileged to have that same pleasure and the Chilean Miners did not.

In sharing such emotional and devastating news it's important to provide the facts and to allow time for the receiver to digest the information and ask questions for clarity. Their families of the Chilean Miners would need to feel support and comfort in any and all efforts being made in attempt to save their beloved family members. To support the efforts and hang on to each change in the search family members camped out nearby for months. The minimum the company can do at such a difficult time is demonstrated understanding and compassion. Families should be provided direct access to a company representative to request updates and/or share their concerns or hardship. If the company has an employee and family assistance program this would be helpful to extend to family and friends for assistance. As the days and weeks passed and after the second collapse the rescue crew enhanced their search as food and water supply became scarce. The livelihood of the Chilean miners was always a concern for both the company and their families and eventually food, medicine and other resources were provided to them to provide some assistance. As expected with each passing day the Chileans grew increasingly skeptical that any of the miners had survived -- let alone all of them. ("Times Topic", 2012)

To avoid any rumor mill or speculation it's always best for the company to deliver information timely to staff and with some prior preparation of questions that may be asked. This of course will require the source to conduct some additional research in order to fully equip themselves and their audience. Sharing information is just as important with the staff or other employees as it is to friends and family. One must enter into a situation as a information resource and while anticipating the concern staff will have for their peers or employee's involved such as fear of future danger, how important safety is with the organization and what actions will be taken by the company to try and rectify this situation for employees and their families. "The mine, known as San José, has had