STAT OF THE DAY According to new polling from Porter Novelli, 54% of consumers want businesses to create their own rules and guidelines to ensure safety during COVID-19 if government doesn’t take action. COVID-19 UPDATE At the time of reporting, The New York Times showed 3,844,887 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 140,904 deaths. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker showed 3,895,803 cases in the U.S. and 143,032 fatalities. Forecasts on the future spread of COVID-19 depend heavily on assumptions like whether there will be more government intervention, how much social interaction we are likely to see, and whether people will follow safety guidelines. See a breakdown of 15 different models here. President Trump is resuming daily briefings as COVID-19 numbers rise across the country. The European Union has enacted a $2 trillion deal to prop up its economy during the pandemic. U.S. lawmakers are set to start negotiations for a second round of stimulus payments today.
Do you have a plan for addressing hate speech within your organization? With employee comments surfacing on the internet and creating reputation problems for employers of all shapes and sizes, it’s important to be prepared. Here’s how you should try to get ahead of a potential crisis.
Does your intranet do its job? Here’s how to evaluate your intranet provider to see if you are getting the features and services you need to engage employees. Worried you aren’t on the cutting edge? You can future-proof your network, too. The future of work will still include an office. Microsoft’s report on how the workplace will change after the pandemic offers reasons why 100% remote work might not be the best solution for your organization. See the company’s reasoning here. In a recession, proving ROI is more important than ever. Here’s why one PR pro says that now is the time for PR pros to consider adopting the “pay for performance” model and offer to assume some of the risk alongside their clients. LinkedIn to cut 6% of its global workforce. In a note to employees, CEO Ryan Roslansky said that the professional networking website is not “immune” to the effects of the global pandemic, which have created a financial downturn globally. His note says, in part: After weeks of discussion and deliberation, the executive team and I have made the extremely difficult decision to reduce approximately 960 roles, or about 6 percent of our employee base, across our Global Sales and Talent Acquisition organizations. I’m sharing this news today so that everyone has the complete picture of these changes and why we are making them, and I want you to know these are the only layoffs we are planning. Essential workers walk off the job to protest for Black lives and livelihoods. Organizers of the protest pointed to the disproportionate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black and brown communities, both in terms of fatalities and loss of employment. NPR reported: "All over the United States, farmworkers, nurses' aides, hotel housekeepers, Uber, delivery, truck and bus drivers, airport cabin cleaners, Amazon warehouse workers, Walmart associates, and more walked off the job to demand an end to police violence against Black people and call on companies to move beyond tweeting that Black Lives Matter and take real action to improve Black lives," organizers said in a release. WFH rules have companies recruiting remote workers for new roles. As remote work becomes more normalized, some companies are using the opportunity to recruit talent that isn’t local, creating diverse, dispersed workforces. USA Today reported: Glassdoor, the job posting site, says its remote job openings are up 28.3% from a year ago even while overall listings are down 23%. Staffing firm Manpower estimates that more than one in four jobs posted in the U.S. specify no location, up from one in 10 in January. Retailers reverse mask requirement decisions—in both directions. Winn-Dixie changed its position and is now requiring customers to wear masks in its stores, joining the likes of Walmart and Kroger. However, Family Dollar is going the other way, changing its position from requiring masks to only encouraging mask use in its stores. ABC News cuts ties with executive over “racially insensitive” comments. Parent company Walt Disney Co. sent a memo from Walt Disney Television Chairman Peter Rice, which said an investigation had found credible allegations against Barbara Fedida, a longtime business affairs chief. Yahoo wrote: "The investigation substantiated that Ms. Fedida did make some of the unacceptable racially insensitive comments attributed to her," Rice said. "It also substantiated that Ms. Fedida managed in a rough manner and, on occasion, used crass and inappropriate language." Walmart increases investment in workers with bonuses and holiday time off. The retailer says it will spend about $428 million in “thank you” payments to workers for their service during the pandemic. The company also says it will close for Thanksgiving, ending its storied Black Friday tradition—at least for this year. CNBC reported: “We know this has been a trying year, and our associates have stepped up. We hope they will enjoy a special Thanksgiving Day at home with their loved ones,” said John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S. said in a news release. “We are certainly thankful to our people for all of their efforts.” Virtual Conference Alert Join us for Ragan’s Brand Storytelling During a Crisis Virtual Conference Aug. 4-5 to learn the latest tips on telling your brand story and protecting your reputation during these uncertain and tumultuous times. Join our Crisis Leadership Board Ragan’s Crisis Leadership Board is the resource you need before, during and after the crisis. 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