QUOTE OF THE DAY “Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate, or despise, serves to defeat us in the end.” –Henry Miller COVID-19 UPDATE At the time of reporting, The New York Times showed 1,798,765 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 104,381 deaths. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker reported 1,829,569 cases and 105,850 deaths. Global cases now exceed 6.1 million. Nationwide unrest has broken out in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. President Trump excoriated state governors, saying they will look like “jerks” if they don’t lock up protestors in their states. Outrage over the death of Floyd goes beyond the borders of the U.S. as protests in London, Berlin, Beijing, and other foreign locales signaled the global reach of the Black Lives Matter movement. Doctors say the coronavirus might be disappearing in Italy, a positive sign in one of the worst-affected countries. However, government officials are pushing caution, saying there isn’t yet enough evidence to support the thesis that COVID-19 is weakening.
U.S. CEOs speak against racism wake of George Floyd’s death. The incident sparked protests, and later riots and looting, across the country but most brands are keeping their focus on racial inequality and police brutality. Check out a breakdown of responses and messages here.
When looking to address diversity and inclusion, set real numbers and consequences. Take a look at advice from UPS’ Janet Stovall about how your organization can have a positive impact on issues around diversity and inclusion in the workplace. If your efforts were sidelined by COVID-19, maybe now is the time to recommit. Apple’s Tim Cook says the tech giant will donate to human rights groups. It’s important for words to be backed by actions during this crisis. For Apple, that means giving to various groups including the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit focused on racial inequality in the U.S. justice system. CNBC shared Cook’s letter, which reads in part: Right now, there is a pain deeply etched in the soul of our nation and in the hearts of millions. To stand together, we must stand up for one another, and recognize the fear, hurt, and outrage rightly provoked by the senseless killing of George Floyd and a much longer history of racism. Being “purpose-driven” means you engage on tense subjects. Leading on social purpose requires brand managers to engage with subjects that are uncomfortable, or that lack public consensus, experts say. See how leaders from Mondelez, Netflix, Levi and others describe purpose—and think about how you can apply those rules to the current cultural moment. Protests lead to increased workplace stress. For communicators looking to create inclusive environments, the Society for Human Resource Managers has put together a library of guides and templates. Target makes safety the priority as it closes some stores indefinitely. The retail chain, headquartered in Minneapolis, has become a focal point for some protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd. In a post explaining some stores would remain closed until further notice, the brand put employees and customers front and center: The safety of our team and guests is our top priority. At this time, we are making the decision to adjust store hours or close stores temporarily. We recognize the important role we play in helping our communities shop for the food, medicine and other essentials they need. We apologize for the inconvenience and will reopen our stores on their normally scheduled hours as soon as it is safe to do so. Merck’s CEO shows power of storytelling in CNBC interview. It can be a powerful thing for diverse leaders to be open and honest about their experience and reaction to cultural moments. Merck’s CEO Kenneth Frazier, shared how the death of George Floyd was affecting him as a black man. Make sure your leaders are prepared to respond in real time in media interviews—and give your people the latitude to speak about issues on which they have a passionate, well-considered opinion. Facebook employees voice anger over handling of Trump posts. Make sure that your company values are a reflection of your employees’ values, or risk seeing your workers bash your organization in headlines. Workers at Facebook have been critical of the social media company’s policies around President Trump’s messages, such as “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” NBC reported: "I work at Facebook and I am not proud of how we’re showing up," tweeted Jason Toff, who lists his role on LinkedIn as director of product management. "The majority of co-workers I’ve spoken to feel the same way. We are making our voice heard." NBA commissioner Adam Silver promises inclusive action. Think about how you can engage your employees in your plans to take social action, if that’s your path forward. The National Basketball Association promised to work with its players to find ways to push for change as many of its stars participated in protests over the weekend. ESPN reported: "I am heartened by the many members of the NBA and WNBA family -- players, coaches, legends, team owners and executives at all levels -- speaking out to demand justice, urging peaceful protest and working for meaningful change," Silver wrote. "Together, with our teams and players, we will continue our efforts." During COVID-19, the shift to “purpose” is paramount. Here’s how tech companies (or any company for that matter) should think about building trust and brand equity in these uncertain times. Virtual Conference Alert Join us for Ragan & PR Daily's Social Media & Digital Communications Virtual Conference June 18-19 to learn brand strategies and best practices to meet the challenges of the new reality. Join our Crisis Leadership Board Ragan’s Crisis Leadership Board is the resource you need before, during and post-crisis. 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