STAT OF THE DAY Almost 75% of employees said they're eager to get back to the office in a recent Glassdoor poll—and roughly half said they expect to be back in the office "in some capacity" this summer. COVID-19 UPDATE At the time of reporting, The New York Times showed 2,148,914 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 116,979 deaths. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker reported 2,182,778 cases in the U.S. and 118,773 fatalities. Protests and gatherings are planned across the nation for Juneteenth, a holiday that marks the end of slavery in the U.S. on June 19, 1865. Anthony Fauci threw cold water on President Trump’s planned rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma—the first rally for the president since the lockdown began in March. Fauci, the administration’s leading medical expert on the virus, said the gathering (19,000 are expected to attend) was a risk. Six states have seen a record spike in OCVID-19 cases, including Arizona and Texas.
Crisis response requires a team effort. Here’s how Nebraska Medicine was able to bring everyone together to prepare for crisis scenarios, and a sampling of its framework for how it assigned roles and duties.
Media changes signal a new era for PR pros and inclusion. Newsroom shake-ups from Bon Appetit to The New York Times are signals that PR pros must go beyond political correctness to address systemic injustice. Here’s how your messaging must change. Quaker will retire Aunt Jemima brand, acknowledges racist origins. The 130-year-old logo on the pancake mix and syrup was based on the minstrel show performer. Parent company Quaker Oats (owned by Pepsi) has yet to announce what will replace the brand. CNN Business wrote: "As we work to make progress toward racial equality through several initiatives, we also must take a hard look at our portfolio of brands and ensure they reflect our values and meet our consumers' expectations," the Pepsi-owned company said in a statement provided to CNN Business. Make sure you are listening to the black employees you hire. Diversity might bring important voices into your organization, but that doesn’t mean they have the power or agency to make important changes. Here are some simple ways to ensure you are engaging black communities inside and outside your organization. Anonymous email forum helps PAN navigate COVID-19 shutdown. How is your leadership trying to engage workers while remote teams work long hours to keep your business running? For Philip Nardone, a Ragan Hall of Fame honoree, an anonymous email system was a handy tool. Here’s more on how he responded to the crisis. Don’t pause efforts to address workplace harassment. According to experts, WFH hasn’t stopped inappropriate communication in the workplace, but rather shifted to venues like WhatsApp where it can be harder for employers to track. Here are some ways to combat the problem in our “new normal.” HSBC restarts restructuring delayed by COVID-19, saying cuts are “necessary.” The bank originally paused layoffs to avoid displacing workers in the midst of the pandemic, but three months later it says the moves have become a necessity. The Independent wrote: In an internal memo to staff, chief executive Noel Quinn said the cuts first announced in February are “even more necessary today” as the group faces “challenging times ahead”... Mr Quinn told employees: “We could not pause the job losses indefinitely - it was always a question of 'not if, but when'.” You might have more at-risk employees than you think. According to research from the Kaiser Family Foundation, one in four U.S. workers has high risk for serious complications from a coronavirus infection. Make sure you are learning as much as you can about employees and their situations as you chart a return to the office. Target raises its minimum wage to $15 an hour. The brand was able to signal a continued investment in employees despite uncertain economic times, but the move wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction. The increase had been in the works for years, showing the need for corporations to have long-term plans and goals for improving the lives of workers. You never know when you are going to need a bit of good news. Morgan Stanley faces lawsuit from former diversity chief. Marilyn Booker, who served as the bank’s diversity chief from 1994 to 2010, is taking the organization to court and claims recent statements in support of diversity and equity are hypocritical. The bank strongly denies the allegations. CNBC wrote: The bank responded in an emailed statement: “We strongly reject the allegations made in this claim and intend to vigorously defend ourselves in the appropriate forum. We are steadfast in our commitment to improve the diversity of our employees and have made steady progress – while recognizing that we have further progress to make. We will continue to advance our high priority efforts to achieve a more diverse and inclusive firm.” 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. | 