STAT OF THE DAY According to a survey of 2,000 Americans, 41% say they are more productive while working from home. However, 54% say there are more distractions at home. COVID-19 UPDATE At the time of reporting, The New York Times showed 4,244,634 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 146,754 deaths. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker reported 4,315,918 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 149,175 fatalities. Florida’s case count has now surpassed New York, the original epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S. President Trump’s top economic advisors, Larry Kudlow and Steve Mnuchin, are still talking about a “V-shaped” economic recovery. Fed officials have adopted a more “gloomy” perspective.
It’s crucial for external and internal comms to collaborate. Here’s how E.W. Scripps sees the benefits of bringing PR and internal comms together in times of crisis—or when everything is going smoothly.
To influence lawmakers during this recess, you should embrace digital media. COVID-19 has changed how everyone—including members of Congress—consume news and content and interact with their world. Here are some tips to get your message in front of key decision makers. PTO requests have cratered during the pandemic. According to research, employers should consider the ripple effects of workers not taking time off and encourage workers to log off. Google is extending WFH for employees until next summer. Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai explained the decision in a note to workers. CNN reported: "To give employees the ability to plan ahead, we'll be extending our global voluntary work from home option through June 30, 2021 for roles that don't need to be in the office," Pichai wrote. "I hope this will offer the flexibility you need to balance work with taking care of yourselves and your loved ones over the next 12 months." Ad agencies are posting their data on race and employment. The attempt to offer transparency and accountability on DE&I has come in the wake of protests following the death of George Floyd. The commitments also follow missteps by some companies as they struggled to respond to the outpouring of grief and anger around racial justice in America. Make your presentation TED-worthy. The packaged delivery of an oral presentation can pack a powerful punch—but there is a method to get your story into a succinct and meaningful format. Here’s how to do it. Siemens moves beyond WFH to “work from anywhere.” The company says the move comes in response to an employee survey where workers said a top desire was to increase flexibility in the approach to work. The company has more than 385,000 employees in 200 countries.
(Image via) Lists can be valuable comms tools—but don’t let them confuse your audience. Here are some mistakes to avoid when using the vertical list to get your message across. Under Armor addresses SEC probe. The company says it maintains its actions were “appropriate” and that it will cooperate with the SEC on “working towards a resolution.” The company went through three CFOs between 2016 and 2017, among other high-profile leadership changes. LinkedIn has resources to help you combat bias at work. See its full list, including courses from LinkedIn Learning on topics like “communicating across cultures” and “skills for inclusive conversations.” Target joins Walmart in closing for Thanksgiving, changing holiday shopping. The company says it hopes to offer holiday deals earlier in the season, enabling customers to avoid holiday shopping crowds during the pandemic. Fox Business reported: "Let's face it: Historically, deal hunting and holiday shopping can mean crowded events, and this isn't a year for crowds," Target said. "That's why our biggest holiday deals will be available earlier than ever, so you can shop safely and conveniently without worrying about missing out on deals that usually come later in the season." 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. As a board member, you have access to all back issues of this newsletter—as 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. | 