QUOTE OF THE DAY “If you want to bring a fundamental change in people’s belief and behavior ... you need to create a community around them, where those new beliefs can be practiced and expressed and nurtured.” –Malcolm Gladwell COVID-19 UPDATE At the time of reporting, The New York Times showed 1,861,262 positive cases in the U.S. and 107,171 deaths. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker reported 1,890,814 cases in the U.S. and 108,703 fatalities. Former Defense Secretary James Mattis, once a part of President Trump’s inner circle, denounced his former boss in a public letter. The defection shows the widening gap between military leaders and the president. The worst might be over, but unemployment claims remain high as businesses have tried to reopen across the U.S. This was the first week new claims fell under 2 million since March 14.
Now is not the time to be silent. Comms leaders shared how they were addressing the death of George Floyd and subsequent protests with employees. Many say that neglecting to speak up sends the wrong message. Here are their takeaways.
Create a resource with regular updates. By offering a place where your workers can check in on their own time to learn about your latest messages and policies during this crisis can help them feel supported without being overwhelmed by constant updates. See more tips here. How can you show solidarity with the George Floyd protests? For employers that want to offer support to workers participating in protests and activism, leaders should offer empathy and affirm policies around justice and equity in the workplace. Here’s some guidance as to how. Wendy’s gets flak on Twitter over franchisee’s donations to Trump. The fast-food chain responded on Twitter after users expressed anger over a franchisee’s $500,000 gift to Trump’s reelection campaign, revealing the deep fault lines in American politics that can potentially ensnare businesses. CNN reported: Wendy's (WEN) responded on Twitter about Bodenstedt's donation, telling people: "We never have and will never contribute to a presidential campaign. For the record our CEO has always kept that same energy too. Facts." Bon Appetit curates list of black-owned restaurants to support. The action is an example of ways publishers (which in today’s media environment is every organization) can help to shine a light on minority-owned and operated organizations. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected women in the workplace. Reports suggest that women on the job have lost “decades worth of progress” due to COVID-19. For organizations looking to recover in the coming months, think about how you can offer extra support to workers who have been more harshly affected. Embracing virtual work creates a more equitable workplace. Employees who might otherwise want to leave your organization might reconsider if you make allowances around physical location and flexible work schedules. Here’s how one communications leader sees the future of the industry. Use this time to push healthier work habits. You can use this period of uncertainty to test new messages and initiatives around healthier work, even if your workforce has yet to return to the office. Here are some things to consider. Twitter’s CEO donates to Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp. Many business leaders have been following their statements on racial injustice with financial support to charities and activist groups. Donations can be a good way to demonstrate a commitment to issues beyond a social media statement. Don’t lose your D&I momentum during COVID-19. The Times Up Foundation offers a guide to equity and inclusion during a crisis that could be an essential resource for organizations looking to continue programs despite disruption from COVID-19. 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. 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. | 