--- title: What If You Don't Have a Dedicated Internal Communications Department description: Don’t have an official internal communications (IC) department? What should you do? Can your human resources or marketing and PR departments fill in? image: https://www.backstitch.io/hubfs/pexels-photo-842554%20(1)-1.jpeg --- [![backstitch purple logo](https://www.backstitch.io/hs-fs/hubfs/backstitch_logo_purple_2020.png?width=170&height=36&name=backstitch_logo_purple_2020.png "backstitch purple logo")](https://www.backstitch.io/) ## [Integrate Mental and Financial Wellness into Your Total Rewards](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/mental-wellness-total-rewards) [Read](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/mental-wellness-total-rewards) ## [Implement Flexible Benefits Allowances for Your Workforce](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/flexible-benefits-allowances) [Read](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/flexible-benefits-allowances) ## [Essential Skills and Tools that Every Total Rewards Professional Need](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/skills-and-tools-for-trs-professionals) [Read](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/skills-and-tools-for-trs-professionals) ## [AI and HR: Realistic Expectations for Automated Benefits Communication](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/ai-and-hr-realistic-expectations-for-automated-benefits-communication) [Read](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/ai-and-hr-realistic-expectations-for-automated-benefits-communication) ## [Open Enrollment in a Hybrid Workplace: Best Practices for Virtual Success](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/open-enrollment-in-a-hybrid-workplace-best-practices-for-virtual-success) [Read](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/open-enrollment-in-a-hybrid-workplace-best-practices-for-virtual-success) by [Meghan LeVota](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/author/meghan-levota) on Mar 14, 2018 [Internal Communications](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/internal-communications) [Human Resources](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/human-resources) [Employee Engagement](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/employee-engagement) [Messaging Tools](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/messaging-tools) # What If You Don't Have a Dedicated Internal Communications Department ### Subscribe to Email Updates A strong [internal communications department](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/10-reasons-to-thank-internal-communications-manager) can bring order, collaboration and cohesion to an organization. Often a [thankless job](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/10-reasons-to-thank-internal-communications-manager), internal communicators keep everyone in the loop, coordinate company events and keeps everyone motivated to **work their hardest.** When an organization communicates with its employees, those employees are [likely to be more engaged.](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/the-hidden-and-expensive-cost-of-poor-internal-communications-)  There is a difference between knowing your **job **and knowing your **role** in the greater organization. When you know your role, you’re doing more than just showing up to the office to do a job.   Each engaged employee can increase the bottom line by an average of **$13,000** more to the bottom line, according to Paulson Training. Overall, the problem of employee disengagement costs U.S. companies about [**$550 billion** per year.](http://news.gallup.com/reports/199961/state-american-workplace-report-2017.aspx) Despite all the benefits that communication can bring, several companies don’t have an official internal communications (IC) department. If you are one of those companies, what should you do? First of all, [**do not let the absence of an official department prevent you** **from having an internal communications strategy.**](https://ctt.ec/Q0ScN) As long as it’s purpose driven, any communication is better than no communication, and there are steps you can take to upgrade your communication today — with or without a department. In many cases, this indecision over who should take over the responsibility of internal communication holds corporations back. But it doesn’t have to. ### [Click here to read: Five Symptoms of Poor Internal Communication](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/five-symptoms-of-poor-internal-communications) If you don’t have an IC department, the collective wisdom is pretty much split between whether your human resources department or your marketing department should take over IC duties. There are pros and cons to both, and we are going to explore both of those in this article. ## **Human Resources** ![Human resources handle a lot of tasks that are similar to an internal communications department.](https://www.backstitch.io/hs-fs/hubfs/pexels-photo-776615.jpeg?width=640&name=pexels-photo-776615.jpeg) There is one main thing that HR professionals and internal communicators have in common: *their focus on employee engagement.* For HR professionals, their priority is the people — which is exactly who internal communication serves. It's their job to bring out the best in employees. They increase productivity, retain talent, offer career development opportunities and manage the organization’s employee brand. All of these things can be done better with a strong internal communication strategy. Because of the common goal of employee engagement, many believe that IC duties fall nicely underneath the HR umbrella. But you’ll have to ask yourself — what is the **specific goal **of your internal communication? Is it to improve your company culture? Is it to increase the proper utilization of benefits? To increase productivity? This will depend upon the organization. Of course, an IC strategy can contribute to solving all of these problems. But when IC duties are placed within an HR department, team members must be 100 percent clear on how each task serves their greater HR goal. And if this goal isn’t clear and specific, your HR team **might get distracted** from the goals of IC by specific HR duties, not doing the job justice. Remember, there are likely several other responsibilities that HR professionals are focused on. When there are metrics in place and clear expectations set, HR can be a great department for IC. ## **Marketing and/or Public Relations departments ** ![Marketing and Public Relations already handles external communications. They may be very suited to take on internal communication tasks as well.](https://www.backstitch.io/hs-fs/hubfs/rawpixel-com-296612-unsplash.jpg?width=640&name=rawpixel-com-296612-unsplash.jpg) Another common area where IC responsibilities can land is within the marketing, corporate communication or public relations department. Although internal communication is different than external communication, both require complementary skills. And if your organization is currently producing topical, consistent IC content but is lacking engagement, you might want to call on other professional communicators for help. Marketers know how to communicate a targeted message. They know how to write copy in an engaging, dynamic, attention grabbing way. The problem is, since marketing and public relations professionals are often used to addressing customers, it will require a shift in mindset toward the unique needs of an employee population. ### [Click here to read: How to develop your employee brand](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/why-you-need-to-develop-your-employer-brand) If an external communicator can learn to talk to **employees with the same intention as they give to their customers**, then they can be rockstar internal communicators. It is important that this department is also in charge of IC, that individuals are given the time and resources to do both. Many companies find it easy to slip into the pattern of putting customers above employees. If marketing departments aren’t held equally accountable for their IC duties, they might neglect them in favor of other assignments that serve customers above employees. ## What about both? What if you want the best of both worlds? Some companies have seen success merging IC responsibilities amongst HR and external communication professionals. Perhaps you can assign a portion of each department to work together on the project. ## **The decision...** There are a few things you might want to consider before making your final decision: - **Which department has the most available resources?** - **How diverse are the skill sets of each departments? ** The most important thing to remember is to** set clear expectations. **Without a dedicated department, IC managers might feel spread thin and pulled in many different directions. No matter who you choose to take on IC responsibilities, it will be harder to ensure that things are getting done unless they are** given resources, and held accountable.** So, make sure to lend them a hand! ### [Read: 10 reasons to thank your internal communications manager](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/10-reasons-to-thank-internal-communications-manager) ### [Meghan LeVota](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/author/meghan-levota) Content Strategist at backstitch [![SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/731034/646ddd3c-d03d-493f-9ca9-e290cd3dd9ef.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/731034/646ddd3c-d03d-493f-9ca9-e290cd3dd9ef) [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.backstitch.io%2Fblog%2F-what-to-do-if-your-company-doesnt-have-a-dedicated-internal-communications-department) [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.backstitch.io%2Fblog%2F-what-to-do-if-your-company-doesnt-have-a-dedicated-internal-communications-department) ![post_img](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/2558854/hubfs/Future-Vision-Assets/post_img1.jpg?width=786&name=post_img1.jpg "post_img") ### READ MORE OF WHAT YOU LIKE. [Internal Communications](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/internal-communications) [Human Resources](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/human-resources) [Employee Benefits](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/employee-benefits) [Employee Engagement](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/employee-engagement) [Messaging Tools](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/messaging-tools) ## [Implement Flexible Benefits Allowances for Your Workforce](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/flexible-benefits-allowances) [Internal Communications](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/internal-communications) [Employee Benefits](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/employee-benefits) [Total Rewards Statements](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/total-rewards-statements) ## [Open Enrollment in a Hybrid Workplace: Best Practices for Virtual Success](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/open-enrollment-in-a-hybrid-workplace-best-practices-for-virtual-success) [Internal Communications](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/internal-communications) [Employee Benefits](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/employee-benefits) [Employee Engagement](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/employee-engagement) [Total Rewards Statements](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/total-rewards-statements) [HR Documents](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/topic/hr-documents) ## [Strategic Planning for Open Enrollment](https://www.backstitch.io/blog/strategic-planning-for-open-enrollment) [![backstitch logo in purple](https://www.backstitch.io/hs-fs/hubfs/backstitch_logo_purple_2020.png?width=200&height=43&name=backstitch_logo_purple_2020.png "backstitch logo in purple")](https://www.backstitch.io/) © 2026 backstitch Inc. All rights reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Meghan LeVota", "url" : "https://www.backstitch.io/blog/author/meghan-levota" }, "dateModified" : "2021-04-27T19:37:35.339Z", "datePublished" : "2018-03-14T14:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "What If You Don't Have a Dedicated Internal Communications Department", "image" : [ "https://www.backstitch.io/hubfs/pexels-photo-842554%20(1)-1.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.backstitch.io/blog/-what-to-do-if-your-company-doesnt-have-a-dedicated-internal-communications-department", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.backstitch.io/hubfs/backstitch%20logo%20purple%202020.png" }, "name" : "backstitch" } } ```