STAT OF THE DAY According to a new report from the Institute for Public Relations and the Harris Poll, 81% believe that workers should be allowed to work from home until they feel comfortable to return. Also, 83% said that if work can be done remotely, employers should not require workers to come into the office until COVID-19 has been neutralized. COVID-19 UPDATE At the time of reporting, The New York Times showed that there were 1,970,613 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 110,966 fatalities. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker showed 2,001,721 cases in the U.S. and 112,648 deaths. More than half of the U.S. states might be undercounting cases of COVID-19 by not following CDC guidelines, reports CNN. States with large populations like California and Florida continue not to list “probable” cases in their figures. The World Health Organization is revising earlier claims that asymptomatic transmission of coronavirus is rare as health officials have come to learn more about the disease. The National Bureau of Economic Research says the U.S. officially entered a recession in February.
Follow the three L’s when engaging around race in your organization. IBM’s Brandi Boatner, along with other communications leaders, shared tips on how to build a culture that supports and elevates marginalized voices. Her three L’s are language, listening and learning. See all the panel’s tips here.
How your organization can take meaningful action on racism. What does an authentic message have and how can corporations demonstrate a commitment to unravelling racial injustice in our society? Here are three concrete tips. Personalization is the key to authenticity. Here’s how scholars are breaking down the messages from companies both large and small during this moment of civil unrest and protest. Messages that feel like they are tailored to the writer or speaker carry more weight. In an interview with Marketplace, Stephanie Creary, professor of management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania said: I think being authentic is something that is very hard to do in a corporate press release or in a memo. … The actual core identity or the core meaning gets lost. And if you stop and read some of these statements, they do actually look quite a bit different from others. And I think it’s because the person writing it has taken the time to personalize it, and has taken the time to talk about how they feel as a person right now, and has taken the time to reflect on what this means for their particular business in their particular employees. So personalization goes a long way to expressing authentic feelings. For crisis video, make sure you ask the right questions. Here’s what the experts say you should consider when planning your video response to a crisis. Nike CEO John Donahue promises action on racial justice. The brand has been criticized by some for its strong words while still failing to have diverse representation within its top leadership. In an internal memo, its chief promised to make changes. CNBC reported: “While we strive to help shape a better society, our most important priority is to get our own house in order,” the letter reads. “Nike needs to be better than society as a whole. ... While we have made some progress over the past couple of years, we have a long way to go,” he said about Nike’s diversity and inclusion efforts. How you can address race and police with employees. Porter Novelli shares how a conversation grew out of an internal storytelling program to shine a light on diverse employees. Here’s how that conversation has grown and changed in light of recent events. Microsoft employees ask for support for Black Lives Matter movement. In a leaked internal letter, workers asked the company to show support for the movement by canceling contracts with the Seattle Police department and implement a four-day work week. Microsoft is pointing to an earlier post by CEO Satya Nadella instead of addressing the letter outright. Nadella’s letter expresses sadness over recent events and promises engagement on these issues in the future. Kind CEO Daniel Lubetzky shares the importance of speaking up. The leader acknowledged that it was difficult to find words to meet the moment but told CNBC that when a team member reached out to him to encourage a statement, he took it as a lesson. CNBC reported: “Even when words are failing you, it’s very important for you to find those words and speak up. Your team needs that from you more than you realize,” he says. People need an “acknowledgement of what they’re going through.” Make sure employee well-being is central to your return to work plans. As you consider how to chart your way back to normal, your top priority must be thinking about and sharing how you put employees first. Here are some tips. How you can address tension around race in your workplace. For communicators, it is important not to let these open wounds fester. Here are some tips for how you can facilitate important conversations around race, diversity and inclusion in your office or organization. Deutsche Bank issues word of caution amid reopening. In an internal memo, bank leaders implored workers to continue to follow safety guidelines and conduct business virtually where possible. KFGO reported: Deutsche Bank has warned employees to exercise vigilance in dealing with the threat of the coronavirus as Europe's largest economy gradually reopens, according to a staff memo seen by Reuters. The memo, sent to employees on Friday and seen by Reuters, underscores the cautious approach by Germany's top lender as some global competitors loosen restrictions. Virtual Conference Alert Join us for Ragan & PR Daily's Social Media & Digital Communications Virtual Conference on 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 after the crisis. 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