STAT OF THE DAY Email is a top channel for communicators during the current crisis, according to a report from the Andrews Partnership, which reported 96% of organizations used email to transmit key messages. Almost three fourths (73%) used intranet or online news sites and 59% used video broadcasts or townhalls. – APAC Report COVID-19 UPDATE At the time of reporting Tuesday morning, The New York Times reported 580,000 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and at least 23,000 deaths. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker reported 587,752 cases and 24,348 fatalities. Some countries in Europe have started to ease lockdown as new cases decrease, but health officials warn that it is too early to relax containment and mitigation measures. Cases in the U.S. continue to escalate, mandating more time before the U.S. can consider similar actions. President Trump says he has “total authority” to reopen the country’s economy, but many state governors are pushing back. State leaders are forming regional pacts to address the timing of bringing back business operations. Markets were up Tuesday on speculation of an improved outlook on COVID-19, and as some leaders have remarked that the worst might be over for parts of the country, including New York.
For remote worker engagement, there might be an app for that. Here’s how Phillips 66 is communicating with its dispersed workforce during the current crisis—and how it uses technology to meet its goals.
Email newsletters see surge in open rate. Experts say that the increase in remote work and desire for updates on the COVID-19 virus have driven the increase. The data suggest that email newsletters are more trusted than social media posts. Omnicom CEO looks to the future as he announces furloughs and pay cuts. Make sure to explain that cuts are not the result of employee performance and give hope where you can about the recovery ahead. You can read how Omincom’s John Wren phrased it here. Remote work means rethinking how you monitor employee productivity. You might want to consider “office hours”—periods where employees are available to answer queries, and then letting them manage their to-do list on their own. Here’s how it might work. How can PR pros pitch TV outlets during this crisis? Here are some tactics and tips for becoming a go-to resource for newsrooms that are limited by the COVID-19 lockdown. How are you responding to employee criticism? Amazon pointed to its employee handbook as it continued to make headlines when it fired several employees who invited warehouse workers to a virtual meeting to discuss the company’s safety practices during the pandemic. The New York Times reported: “We support every employee’s right to criticize their employer’s working conditions, but that does not come with blanket immunity against any and all internal policies,” said Drew Herdener, an Amazon spokesman. “We terminated these employees for repeatedly violating internal policies.” Be a resource for clients during a difficult period. Make sure that you are available in tough times as much as you are in moments that are more lucrative. Here are some tips for being of service to PR clients during the current crisis. Don’t call your plans to furlough a “favor” for employees. Restaurant mogul and billionaire owner of the Houston Rockets Tilman Fertitta said in a TV interview that giving employees furloughs was doing them a service—poor phrasing at best. Eater reported: “You’re doing the people a favor if you get them furloughed first because you have them first to unemployment line after the severance that you give them,” Fertitta said. “It’s a trick that I’ve learned many years ago.” Build strong social media communities. Now is the time to build community and engage your audience in ways that help them get important information. Here’s how you can pivot your social media strategy to the current moment. Addressing absent employees a delicate issue for HR pros. Reports of hospital administrators questioning the validity of sick leave for health care workers is a delicate issue for human resources. One memo from Health and Hospitals Corp. asked for doctor’s notes. The City reported: “Because all of you are critically needed in our facilities, we have to address this issue so that some of our staff is not bearing an extra burden for those who are staying home without approved leave,” the note said. “As a response to this staffing emergency, we will be implementing new processes to ensure that those who are out and using sick or COVID leave are entitled to use that leave…” Virtual Conference Alert Join us for Ragan’s Internal Communications and Culture Virtual Conference April 21-22 to learn how you can connect dispersed workers and unite your organization in the face of unprecedented disruption. Join our Crisis Leadership Board Ragan’s Crisis Leadership Board is the resource you need before, during and post-crisis. As a Board member, you have access to all back issues of this newsletter, we well as research, data, case studies, checklists, tip sheets, articles and other resources, plus a peer to peer discussion board and an all-access pass to the annual Crisis Management Conference. Sponsorship/Advertising Opportunities Contact Hannah Lavelle at HannahL@ragan.com with sponsorship and advertising inquiries. Pitch Us Have a great story to share about crisis communication or your own take on current best practices? Contact Editor Ted Kitterman at TedK@ragan.com. Sign Up Subscribe to Ragan’s Crisis Daily newsletter today! | 