Ineffective internal communications in North America can result in a disenfranchised workforce, diminished competitiveness, reduced profits, and a litany of other woes. At least you can’t be fined for it.

Beginning in March, companies operating in the European Union (EU) can be fined up to 75,000 pounds for violating a directive that compels them to communicate effectively with their employees. The directive gives employees the right to know about everything that materially affects their job security, prospects and future, according to Pauline Arnot, director of Beattie Communications, a UK internal communication consultancy.

I’m surprised IABC hasn’t been communicating about this, since the “I” stands for International. According to an article appearing today in Process and Control Today (of all places), more than 70% of the companies in Europe aren’t prepared to comply with the law; most aren’t even aware of it.

“Of course, enlightened businesses have been communicating effectively with their employees for years because they know that a motivated, well-informed workforce is going to be much more productive and profitable,” Arnot says. For everybody else, it’ll be time to communicate with employees about what?s going on inside their business, how their company is performing and how secure their jobs are, along with health and safety information and more.

Could be we’ll see an increase in demand for communication consultants in Europe.